PC Beats Top 25 Ranked Xavier on Road with Last Second Shot

PC Beats Top 25 Ranked Xavier on Road with Last Second Shot

The  #17/17 ranked Providence College men's basketball team defeated the #21/23 Xavier Musketeers, 65-62, on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

How good is this Friar team -- its star Nate Watson was in foul trouble early, scored no points, and only had two rebounds, but PC won on the road against a top 25 team. That good.

Junior Jared Bynum contributed 16 points in the game, including the game-winning three-point basket. "We're so connected, from the coaching staff, to the players, to the managers," Bynum said. "We do a lot of preparation, so we have a lot of confidence and belief in each other."

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The Friars improve to 17-2 overall for the first time since the 1976-77 season and 7-1 in Big East play for the first time in program history. The Friars have won 12 of their last 13 games. Graduate student Al Durham led the Friars in scoring with 22 points.

"We're mature, older, and we didn't lose our composure," Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "This is a player-driven organization and the players really showed up today. This is a proud moment for Providence College men's basketball."

 

GAME STORY

FIRST HALF:

- The Friars' first two baskets came from three-point territory, with Noah Horchler and Durham each getting on the board.
- Durham was the driving force in the first stretch of the game, scoring nine consecutive points after Horchler's initial three-pointer. PC jumped out to an early 12-3 lead.
- At the 14:51 mark, Xavier scored to end a three-minute scoring drought. Durham quickly responded with another three-pointer. The Friars' lead increased to double digits.
- Durham notched double figures within the first six minutes of the game.
- Midway through the first half, the Friars had control of the game, combining their hot shooting with defensive intensity. 
- With 9:32 to play in the half, Ed Croswell blocked a shot and Justin Minaya finished the fastbreak with a three-pointer. PC led 22-10.
- The Friars held a 10-point advantage, 30-20, at the 3:45 media timeout. The lead dwindled to single digits in the final stretch of the half. 
- The Friars endured some shooting struggles at the end of the first half. Heading into the final minute, the Friars had missed eight of their previous nine shot attempts. 
- At the 0:17 mark, Bynum knocked down a mid-range jumper. The Friars led by nine, 35-26. Bynum brought a spark in the first half, contributing 11 points. 
- Xavier's Jack Nunge knocked down a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the half. 
- The Friars led by six points at halftime, 35-29. 
- Providence shot 13-30 (43.3%) from the field, 4-10 (40.0%) from three, and 5-8 (62.5%) from the free-throw line. 
- Xavier shot 11-31 (35.5%) from the field, 2-10 (20.0%) from three, and 5-6 (83.3%) from the free-throw line. 

 

SECOND HALF:

- Durham earned the first points of the second half for the Friars from the free-throw line. Alyn Breed contributed the team's first field goal of the half. 
- The teams traded baskets in the first few minutes of the second half. 
- With 12:50 to play, the Musketeers narrowed the gap to three points. PC led 47-44.
- Neither team gained much separation on the scoreboard as the second half progressed.
- At the 8:37 mark, Bynum found Croswell for a two-handed slam. The Friars extended their lead to 53-46. Meanwhile, the Musketeers were in the midst of a scoring drought.
- The Musketeers put an end to the drought, answering with a 7-0 scoring run. The game was knotted at 53 with 6:11 to play. The Friars used a timeout.
- With 5:09 remaining, Horchler added a timely three-pointer. The Friars regained the lead, 58-55.
- At the final media timeout of the game, the Friars led 60-57.
- With 0:51 remaining, Paul Scruggs connected on a three-pointer to give the Musketeers a two-point lead, 62-60. It was the first lead for the Musketeers since the score was 2-0.
- On the next possession, Durham drew contact and converted both free throws, tying up the game once again with 0:36 to play. 
- The Friars forced a stop and Bynum hit the game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds of the game.  

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Providence finished 22-53 (41.5%) from the field, 7-19 (36.8%) from three, and 14-19 (73.7%) from the free-throw line. 
- Xavier finished 25-60 (41.7%) from the field, 4-18 (22.2%) from three, and 8-10 (80.0%) from the free-throw line. 
- Three players finished in double-figures for the Friars, in Bynum (16), Croswell (10), and Durham (22). 
- The Friars' largest lead in the game was 14 points. 
- Tonight's win marked the Friars' second all-time win at the Cintas Center. 
- The Friars have been ranked for six consecutive weeks after entering the polls on December 20, 2021. 
- The Friars are now 14-0 on the season when leading at halftime.  

 

NEXT GAME:

The Friars return home to take on the No. 22/RV Marquette Golden Eagles in the Coaches vs.Cancer Game on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. on FS1. 
Providence holds a 12-21 all-time record versus Marquette. Earlier in the season, the Golden Eagles upset and crushed the then No. 16/17 Friars, 88-56, on Jan. 4 in Milwaukee, Wis.