Providence's Bentil, Xavier's Sumner earn Big East weekly honors

By foxsports
Published

Providence sophomore forward Ben Bentil was named Big East Player of the Week after scoring a career-high and recording his second consecutive double-double on Monday night.

Bentil had 32 points and 12 boards in a 90-66 win over UMass. The 6-foot-8 forward took advantage of his matchup on the offensive end by stretching the Minutemen big men out to the perimeter. Bentil shot 3-of-5 from three and on several occasions was able to beat his man off the dribble.

Entering league play, Bentil is the team's leading scorer.

"To Ben's credit he's really developed," Providence head coach Ed Cooley said after Monday's game. "He's playing with a purpose. He's a tough matchup, playing inside and out at the level he's playing at. Scary numbers he put up today."

For the second consecutive week, Xavier redshirt point guard Edmond Sumner was named Big East Freshman of the Week. The 6-foot-6 freshman had season highs with 21 points and nine boards in a 78-70 comeback win over Wake Forest.

Sumner is second on the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. 

The Musketeers begin Big East play as the only remaining undefeated team in the conference. They'll get tested right away, traveling to Villanova on New Year's Eve followed by a Jan. 2 date with Butler.