PC Struggles Early But Tops DePaul 81-70

PC Struggles Early But Tops DePaul 81-70

DePaul came into Providence just 3-21 on the season and 0-13 in the Big East and they battled the Friars for about 30 minutes and then PC pulled away.

PC won 81-70.

The Friars improved to 17-9 and 8-7 in the Big East.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

It was not easy for the Friars early on, and they only led 34-30 at half-time.

Josh Oduro had 16 in the first half, and Devin Carter added 14. The rest of the team had just 4 points.

DePaul hit a 3-pointer at the beginning of the second half to cut the Friar's lead to 1.

However, Oduro and Carter continued to deliver in the second half.

Oduro finished with 27 points and 6 rebounds.

And Carter had a double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Both tied previous career highs. Carter had seven three-pointers, a career-high. Devin Carter's father, NBA coach Anthony Carter, was in attendance for the game.

 
 FIRST HALF: 
• Oduro opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer from the top of the key. At the first media timeout (15:58 mark), the Friars led, 9-3.
• After the timeout, the Blue Demons mounted a 5-0 surge, narrowing the score to 9-8. Oduro ended the Friars' three-minute scoring drought by sinking a three.
• At under-12 timeout (11:31 mark), the Friars held a slim advantage over DePaul, 15-14.
• The Friars endured a three minute scoreless run. With 9:34 left to play in the first half, DePaul's Chico Carter, Jr., scored a layup to give the Blue Demons their first lead of the night. Oduro quickly responded with a layup to regain the lead, 17-16. It marked Oduro's 10th point of the game.
• Both teams continued to battle for the remainder of the half. At the final media timeout, Providence led by two, 26-24.
• Over a span of three minutes, the Friars went on a 10-2 surge. With 00:34 left on the clock, Carter drained a three to force a DPU timeout.
• Entering the locker-room, the Friars led, 34-30.
• Oduro and Carter accounted for 88.2% of the Friars' first half points.
• Oduro shot 6-7 from the field, 2-3 from three, and 2-4 from the free-throw line.
• Providence shot 11-23 (47.8%) from the field, 6-18 (33.3%) from three, and 6-12 (50.0%) from the free-throw line.
• DePaul shot 11-29 (37.9%) from the field, 2-9 (22.2%) from three, and 6-9 (66.7%) from the free-throw line.
 
SECOND HALF:        
• Oduro started off the Friars' second-half scoring with a hook shot  in the paint.
• PC outscored the Blue Demons 6-0 over a span of 1:06 minutes, extending the lead to 40-33, the largest of the game. By the first media timeout (15:31 mark) the Friars were up, 44-38.
• Oduro and Carter continued the strong offense combining for 16 points early in the second half. Providence held a 52-42 advantage over DePaul entering the under-12 media timeout, (11:53 mark).
• The Friars continued to pull away from the Blue Demons. With 6:55 left to play, Rafael Castro (Dover, N.J.) sank an emphatic dunk to give the Friars a 12-point advantage, 64-52.
 • DePaul rallied in the final 1:30 of the game, finding a 12-0 scoring surge and cutting into the Friars' 23-point lead, however, they were unable to overcome the Friars and PC finished with an 11-point win, 81-70.  
 
HIGHLIGHTS:         
• Providence finished 28-60 (46.7%) from the field, 13-34 (38.2%) from three and 12-19 (63.2%) from the free throw line.   
• DePaul finished 25-57 (43.9%) from the field, 5-17 (29.4%) from three and 15-23 (65.2%) from the free throw line. 
• Two Friars finished in double figures: Carter (31) and Oduro (27).
• The Friars are 16-2 this season when scoring 71 or more points.
• Providence is 8-1 when scoring 10 or more threes in a game.
• Providence improved to 13-0 when leading at halftime
• Elijah Fisher and Jaden Henley led the way for DePaul with 15 points each.
• Carter posted his ninth double-double of the season (31 pts, 13 rb).
•Attendance- 12,295
• The Friars now hold a 40-13 all-time series advantage over the Blue Demons.
• Carter recorded a career-best seven threes.

NEXT:         
• The Friars are back on the road to play Xavier University on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. 

•The Musketeers hold a 14-11 all-time series advantage over the Friars. In the first meeting this season, the Friars were defeated by Xavier, 85-65 on Jan.13 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I.