PC Loses First Game of Year 74-64 to Miami

PC Loses First Game of Year 74-64 to Miami

The Providence College men's basketball team lost to the University of Miami, 74-64, on Saturday in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Miami Head Coach Jim Larrañaga, Providence College class of '71 who averaged 16.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg over his three-year playing career for the Friars, earned his 700th career win with Miami's victory. 

Sophomore Bryce Hopkins led the Friars with 16 points and eight rebounds (both team highs).

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Graduate student Jared Bynum and sophomore Devin Carter also finished in double figures, with 14 and 11 points, respectively. 

"We have a great opportunity in this tournament to improve," Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "We will get better and more mature as the year progresses."

 

FIRST HALF:

- Two minutes went by before either team scored. Noah Locke (Baltimore, Md.) and Miami's Wooga Poplar traded three-pointers to open the game.
- The score was knotted at nine at the first media timeout.
- Midway through the first half, Miami went on a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game. Meanwhile, the Friars endured a three-minute scoring drought. 
- With under nine minutes left in the half, Alyn Breed (Powder Springs, Ga.) made a floater to end the drought. PC trailed 20-17.
- The Friars took a timeout at the 5:02 mark, now trailing 28-19. Isaiah Wong was the driving force of the Miami offense, scoring back-to-back baskets ahead of the timeout.
- Breed buried a three-ball on the team's final possession of the first half. He led the Friars in scoring entering halftime with six points.
- Miami held a 38-26 advantage heading into the locker room. Isaiah Wong was the only player in double figures, notching 14 points in the half. 
- Providence shot 9-25 (36.0%) from the field, 2-11 (18.2%) from three and 6-10 (60.0%) from the free throw line. 
- Miami shot 13-33 (39.4%) from the field, 2-9 (22.2%) from three and 10-10 (100%) from the free throw line. 

 

SECOND HALF:

- The Friars cut the deficit to single digits in the opening minutes of the second half. Miami led 45-36 at the 15:46 timeout.
- Carter drained a three-pointer from the right wing at the 11:54 mark. The Friars narrowed the gap to only six, 51-45. 
- After a brief offensive surge, the Friars did not score for nearly four minutes. Miami went on an 8-0 run, capped off by a three-ball by Jordan Miller. The Hurricanes led 63-49.
- With just over four minutes to play, Bynum found Hopkins in the right corner for a wide-open three. PC trailed 65-54.
- The Hurricanes maintained their double-digit lead through the final minutes of the game.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Providence finished 21-50 (42.0%) from the field, 5-21 (23.8%) from three and 17-22 (77.3%) from the free throw line. 
- Miami finished 27-63 (42.9%) from the field, 4-13 (30.8%) from three and 16-18 (88.9%) from the free throw line. 
- The Hurricanes outscored the Friars in points off turnovers by a margin of 19-7.
- The Hurricanes hauled in eight more offensive boards than the Friars (14-6).
- Norchad Omier posted a double-double for the Hurricanes, 19 points and 12 rebounds (both game highs). Isaiah Wong added 18 points on 7-14 from the field. 
- The Friars are making their third appearance in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off (2014, champs; and 2019, 2nd place).
- The Friars have posted a 3-3 mark all-time at Mohegan Sun Arena and a 104-72 (.591) mark all-time in in-season tournaments.WHAT'S NEXT:

 

NEXT:

The Friars will take on Saint Louis University in the Consolation Round of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off on Sunday, November 19. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Providence has posted a 6-1 all-time mark against Saint Louis. In their last matchup, the Friars notched a 90-63 victory on Nov. 17, 2017 in the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.