NEW: #15 Providence Beats Boston College 66-51
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
NEW: #15 Providence Beats Boston College 66-51
See the Five Takeaways Slideshow Below
The game was highlighted by Providence playing the entire game without Ryan Fazekas, due to sickness and the second half without Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, who were sick and injured respectively.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Playing an ACC team, down three players that play major minutes, this was an incredible win, this could be our best win of the year. Everybody's going to look at an Arizona win, the Illinois win, the win at the University of Rhode Island, this was an incredible win for us. In the past, we would have folded, we would have given in, guys would have felt sorry for themselves. Today was about our culture and our grit,' said Friars head coach Ed Cooley after the game.
A Win With Health Concerns
The Friars led 37-23 at the half but in the second had to play without Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn. Bentil suffered an ankle injury at the end of the first half and did not return, while Kris Dunn was sick and had to leave the building.
In the second half, the Friars saw their lead cut to four points, 43-39, with just under 11:15 to play in the half before going on a 7-2 run to go back up 50-41 with 7:25 left to play. Rodney Bullock had five points in that stretch.
Providence closed the game out with Jalen Lindsey knocking three-pointers on two of three possessions with a Junior Lomomba jumper sandwiched in the middle to go up 64-49 with 1:49 to play.
Lindsey would knock down two free throws to give Providence their 66 points and cap off the win.
The Leaders
The Friars were led by Rodney Bullock who poured in 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
Ben Bentil had 16 points and eight rebounds in the first half before getting injured and not returning.
Next Up
The Friars return to action on Saturday, December 12th when they host Bryant University. Tip off is set for noon.
See the Five Takeaways Slideshow Below
5 Takeaways From #15 PC's Win Over Boston College
Quadree Smith
Quadree Smith has not played a whole lot this season for the Friars but this was probably his best game yet.
Smith finished with six points, four rebounds and one steal. All six of his points came at the free throw line.
"6 for 6, I thought Q played really well today, big Q again. It's not going to show on the stats sheet but he moved some bodies, he fronted the post, got some deflections. He imposed his big body, he earned his scholarship today," Ed Cooley said after the game.
Jalen Lindsey
Jalen Lindsey was quiet for most of the night, as far as scoring, until the last couple of minutes.
In the last three minutes of the game, Lindsey hit three-pointers on two of three possessions and then knocked down free throws on a fourth possession to help seal the Friars win.
Lindsey also grabbed 9 rebounds and had two steals in the game.
Dunn & Bentil
Ben Bentil went down with under two minutes left in the first half holding his ankle.
Bentil got up with some help and hopped off the floor and right to the locker room.
Bentil has scored at least 20 points in four straight games for PC and had 16 points in the first half against BC before going down.
Kris Dunn did not return in the second half due to sickness, in fact had to leave the building. Dunn had 4 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds in the first half.
Ed Cooley talked about the intermission, "It was the triage center, Kris was white, Ben was sore. Doc just said both of them are going home and right away you go into survival mode of which we implored at the half on the players"
Rebounding
Providence out rebounded Boston College 46-25 in the game and gave up a season low three offensive rebounds.
"That is an amazing thing, thing is we have done since the Rhody game we have given up 16 or 17 offensive rebounds if I'm not mistaken and we really concentrated on that this week," said Cooley.
Boston College only had four second chance points while PC had 9.
Rodney Bullock
In the second half with no Kris Dunn, no Ben Bentil and no Ryan Fazekas, the Friars needed someone to step up and take the lead in scoring and after the first few minutes of the half, Rodney Bullock did so.
Bullock finished with 17 points on 8 of 14 shooting from the field. Of the 17 points, 15 of them came in the second half.
Bullock also grabbed seven rebounds and had one blocked shot in the game.
