PC Downs UConn - Friars Outshoot, Out-Rebound & Force Huskies Into More Turnovers
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PC Downs UConn - Friars Outshoot, Out-Rebound & Force Huskies Into More Turnovers
And while it would be hard to lose with those numbers, the game was close right down to the end.
The Friars pulled out it out however and defeated the Huskies, 70-59, at Alumni Hall, breaking PC's three-game losing streak.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt marked the first game between the two long-time New England rivals as UConn rejoined the BIG EAST this season. The last game was in 2013. The was no Jim Calhoun or Corny Thompson, but there was former URI coach Dan Hurley now with Huskies. He and PC coach Ed Cooley have not always been besties.
With the win, the Friars moved to 10-10 overall and 6-8 in BIG EAST play. This marked the first win against the Huskies since February 28, 2012 when the Friars won 72-70 in Providence.
Game Story
Nate Watson and David Duke each scored with 17 points each. Noah Horchler led the team in rebounds with 10.
At the 18:51 mark, Ed Croswell finished a second-chance layup to put the Friars in the scoring column. Two minutes later, Watson scored to put the Friars ahead early. Providence led at the first media timeout, 4-2.
With 11:34 left in the half, UConn's Isaiah Whaley made a layup to cap off an 8-0 scoring run. The Friars answered with three-pointers by Duke and Kris Monroe on back-to-back possessions. The Friars held a 19-16 lead.
At the 7:09 mark, A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer from the right corner. On the ensuing possession, UConn's Tyrese Martin matched it with a three of his own. The Friars held a three-point advantage, 24-21, entering the 6:25 timeout.
Providence found a spark in the moments before the final first half media timeout. At the 4:22 mark, Croswell blocked a shot and Duke dunked it in transition. Shortly after, Reeves added another three-pointer. The Friars led 31-27 and were in the midst of a 7-0 scoring run.
The Huskies led at halftime, 34-33. Providence shot 12-27 (44.4%) from the field, 4-10 (40.0%) from three, and 5-7 (71.4%) from the free throw line. UConn shot 14-32 (43.8%) from the field, 4-10 (40.0%) from three, and 2-5 (40.0%) from the free throw line.
Duke opened the second half on a hot streak. He made a mid-range jumper at the 19:07 mark for the first Friars points of the second half. Next, he added a three-pointer at the top of the key and made a contested layup. A steal and score by Breed completed a 9-2 Friars run. With 16:46 left, the Huskies trailed 42-38 and used a timeout.
With 14:11 remaining, Horchler converted from three-point territory for the first time in the game. By the 12:29 mark, the Friars had extended their lead to nine, the largest by either team to that point. The score was 51-42.
Two made free throws by Breed gave the Friars a double-digit lead, 55-44, with 9:49 to play. In response, the Huskies tightened up defensively and narrowed the gap back down to six. At the 7:45 media timeout, the Friars led 55-49.
With 4:28 remaining, UConn's Isaiah Whaley dunked it. Leading up to that basket, the Huskies had gotten defensive stops, but had struggled to capitalize on the offensive end. The Providence lead was cut to 58-53.
Inside the three-minute mark, the Friars scored on three consecutive possessions and forced a Huskies timeout with 1:43 to go. Providence's lead was nine points, 64-55. The Friars were able to close out the game from the free throw line in the final minute.
Providence finished 23-53 (43.4%) from the field, 6-17 (35.3%) from three, and 18-27 (66.7%) from the free throw line. UConn finished 25-62 (40.3%) from the field, 4-20 (20.0%) from three, and 5-9 (55.6%) from the free throw line. R.J. Cole led the way for the Huskies with 14 points.
Three players finished in double-figures for the Friars, in Reeves, Duke, and Watson. The Friars did not surrender a three-pointer to the Huskies in the second half. The Friars also outrebounded the Huskies by five.
NEXT UP: the Friars head to Chicago, Ill. to take on the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday, February 13. The game is set for tip-off at 8 p.m. and is televised on FS1.