Post by dex on Mar 1, 2017 11:37:15 GMT -5
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PROVIDENCE — Providence College is streaking to the finish line in this season of surprises.
The Friars won for the fifth straight time Tuesday night as they wore down DePaul, 73-64, in an ugly, foul- and turnover-filled affair before 10,101 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
The Friars (19-11, 9-8 Big East) will look to tie last year’s conference record with a win at St. John’s on Saturday and remain the hottest team in the conference.
“We’ve talked about the elephant in the room. We want to be an NCAA team,” said coach Ed Cooley. “Don’t know if we’re there yet but we still have one game left. Our goal was to not get swept by a [conference] opponent. Villanova got us and now we have an opportunity to get some revenge in [Madison Square] Garden.”
The five-game winning streak is PC’s longest Big East string in three seasons. The team’s calling card during the streak has been a consistent defense. That was again a trump card in this one as DePaul (9-21, 2-15), which pinned the worst loss of the season on the Friars in January, shot 44 percent and, more important, turned the ball over 21 times.
The Friars only produced offense in fits and starts with 18 sloppy turnovers, but Kyron Cartwright led all of the key spurts with 14 points and six assists. Emmitt Holt (14 points), Rodney Bullock (13) and Jalen Lindsey (12) also reached double digits for the Friars.
Many PC fans, especially in the rabid student section, began calling for senior Casey Woodring almost from the opening tip. Their pleas were finally answered by Cooley with 1:16 to play but the walk-on missed his three shots.
“The game was a little sloppy, a lot of fouls,” Cooley said, “but it was an opportunity for us to just grab a win and keep it moving. This time of the year there are a lot of things you can complain about but the No. 1 thing to do is win.”
The Friars led, 34-23, at the half despite not playing well on offense. PC struggled to 10 field goals and 11 turnovers, but the defense forced 13 turnovers.
The Friars trailed 6-5 early on but 3-pointers by Cartwright and Isaiah Jackson led an 8-0 run for a 17-9 lead. DePaul’s Billy Garrett cut the lead to 19-14 but the home team answered with the half’s key stretch. PC ripped off a 13-2 run to grab a commanding 32-16 lead.
During PC’s run DePaul struggled to get shots to the rim. Instead the attack was dominated by a bevy of turnovers with errant passes and traveling calls. With three minutes left in the half the Blue Demons had 11 turnovers and seven field goals.
The Demons lost the ball four more times before they notched a second-half field goal as the Friars pulled out to a 37-24 lead. Down 41-27, DePaul finally showed some life. It came in the unlikely form of two 3-pointers from guard Chris Harrison-Docks, the second of which cut PC’s lead to 41-34. But instead of cracking, the Friars started running. That led to Cartwright feeding Bullock for a layup and then Cartwright snaking into the lane, breaking the ankles of a DePaul defender and converting a three-point play. The free throw pushed PC’s lead to 46-34.
With the Demons pushed to the ropes, Cartwright delivered the knockout blow. The little man sparked a 12-2 run by snaking into the lane twice and then finding Holt with a long pass for a score to extend the lead to 58-40 with 7:44 to play.
The Friars coasted from there and now turn their eyes toward New York where they’ll first try to even the score with St. John’s and then enter the Big East Tournament next week.
“We’re right there, we’re banging at the door,” Cooley said. “Our players know the importance of this game, trust me. They’re dialed in. These guys are dying to prove people wrong. It’s not where you’re picked, it’s where you finish.
PROVIDENCE — Providence College is streaking to the finish line in this season of surprises.
The Friars won for the fifth straight time Tuesday night as they wore down DePaul, 73-64, in an ugly, foul- and turnover-filled affair before 10,101 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
The Friars (19-11, 9-8 Big East) will look to tie last year’s conference record with a win at St. John’s on Saturday and remain the hottest team in the conference.
“We’ve talked about the elephant in the room. We want to be an NCAA team,” said coach Ed Cooley. “Don’t know if we’re there yet but we still have one game left. Our goal was to not get swept by a [conference] opponent. Villanova got us and now we have an opportunity to get some revenge in [Madison Square] Garden.”
The five-game winning streak is PC’s longest Big East string in three seasons. The team’s calling card during the streak has been a consistent defense. That was again a trump card in this one as DePaul (9-21, 2-15), which pinned the worst loss of the season on the Friars in January, shot 44 percent and, more important, turned the ball over 21 times.
The Friars only produced offense in fits and starts with 18 sloppy turnovers, but Kyron Cartwright led all of the key spurts with 14 points and six assists. Emmitt Holt (14 points), Rodney Bullock (13) and Jalen Lindsey (12) also reached double digits for the Friars.
Many PC fans, especially in the rabid student section, began calling for senior Casey Woodring almost from the opening tip. Their pleas were finally answered by Cooley with 1:16 to play but the walk-on missed his three shots.
“The game was a little sloppy, a lot of fouls,” Cooley said, “but it was an opportunity for us to just grab a win and keep it moving. This time of the year there are a lot of things you can complain about but the No. 1 thing to do is win.”
The Friars led, 34-23, at the half despite not playing well on offense. PC struggled to 10 field goals and 11 turnovers, but the defense forced 13 turnovers.
The Friars trailed 6-5 early on but 3-pointers by Cartwright and Isaiah Jackson led an 8-0 run for a 17-9 lead. DePaul’s Billy Garrett cut the lead to 19-14 but the home team answered with the half’s key stretch. PC ripped off a 13-2 run to grab a commanding 32-16 lead.
During PC’s run DePaul struggled to get shots to the rim. Instead the attack was dominated by a bevy of turnovers with errant passes and traveling calls. With three minutes left in the half the Blue Demons had 11 turnovers and seven field goals.
The Demons lost the ball four more times before they notched a second-half field goal as the Friars pulled out to a 37-24 lead. Down 41-27, DePaul finally showed some life. It came in the unlikely form of two 3-pointers from guard Chris Harrison-Docks, the second of which cut PC’s lead to 41-34. But instead of cracking, the Friars started running. That led to Cartwright feeding Bullock for a layup and then Cartwright snaking into the lane, breaking the ankles of a DePaul defender and converting a three-point play. The free throw pushed PC’s lead to 46-34.
With the Demons pushed to the ropes, Cartwright delivered the knockout blow. The little man sparked a 12-2 run by snaking into the lane twice and then finding Holt with a long pass for a score to extend the lead to 58-40 with 7:44 to play.
The Friars coasted from there and now turn their eyes toward New York where they’ll first try to even the score with St. John’s and then enter the Big East Tournament next week.
“We’re right there, we’re banging at the door,” Cooley said. “Our players know the importance of this game, trust me. They’re dialed in. These guys are dying to prove people wrong. It’s not where you’re picked, it’s where you finish.