PROVIDENCE — A year ago it was two-point losses to Boston College and Maryland. Other tight losses to Illinois and Connecticut stung, as well.

Only four days ago, Northeastern had another chance at a marquee win but lost at Michigan, 76-56. When the Huskies left the floor at Crisler Arena, they promised themselves that the chances at a big-time win wouldn’t keep slipping away.

Last night, the Huskies hit paydirt. After grabbing an 11-point lead and then almost letting it slip away, Northeastern made the big shots down the stretch and upset Providence College, 70-66.

“It feels good to finally win one,” said senior Eugene Spates, who finished with 17 points.

Matt Janning, a starting guard who led all scorers with 24 points, echoed his big man’s feelings.

“This is a Big East team. This will help put us on the map,” he said.

The two games that Northeastern played in a tournament in Michigan, coupled with a trip to Canada in August, seemed to put the visitors slightly ahead, preparation-wise, of a Friar team that is still learning new coach Keno Davis’ system.

“It’s not the outcome that we wanted for our first game of the season, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about Northeastern and the quality of team they have, the quality of coaching they were able to do,” said Davis. “I think you saw a team that is further along than a lot of teams are this time of year. We knew it was a tough game to schedule. I would have loved to play Northeastern a few weeks later. Maybe we would’ve had a few more things in.”

A short bench

An already-thin Friar bench is getting thinner. Forward Alex Kellogg was on the bench in street clothes, sitting next to Ray Hall and Greedy Peterson. That left Davis with just nine scholarship players last night.

Hall is out for the season with a knee injury and Peterson is still being held out as a potential red-shirt. Kellogg has tweaked his knee in the last few days and said last night that he’s very sore and will be seeing a doctor for an examination in the next few days.

If Kellogg checks out fine and needs only some rest, Davis won’t have to make what would be a difficult decision. He’d clearly like to sit Peterson out for the entire season so he could work on his game and adapt to the new coach’s system, but if the frontcourt becomes too thin, the sophomore from Brooklyn may be pressed into action.

A busy week

The Friars have no time to settle into the season. PC won’t have a day off this week as it plays three games over the next week. The Friars host Dartmouth on Tuesday, Sacred Heart on Thursday and then wraps up a four-game homestand with Maine on Saturday afternoon.

“We won’t have to feel sorry for ourselves very long,” said Davis.

PC had to cram in games this next week because the team will take Thanksgiving week to travel to Anaheim, Calif., and play three games in the 76 Classic. PC’s only nonconference road game comes at Boston College on Dec. 20.

The buzz is back

After a lack of buzz for the two exhibition games, the PC fans turned out in force and gave Davis a hearty reception. As the starting lineups were being introduced, the large student section behind the basket nearest the Friars bench began chanting “Keno Davis, Keno Davis.” When the coach was introduced, the fans cheered louder than they did for any player.

The enlarged student section is the biggest difference in the slightly realigned Dunkin’ Donuts Center stands, and the students helped push the attendance to 8,086.

kmcnamar@projo.com