#21 Friars Return from COVID Pause with Win over Georgetown

The 21/21 Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the Georgetown Hoyas, 83-75, on Thursday, January 20 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. With the win, the Friars improved to 15-2 overall and 5-1 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 2003-04. The Friars have won 10 out of their last 11 games. The victory was Head Coach Ed Cooley’s 209th at Providence (209-137), which tied him for second all-time at PC with Dave Gavitt (209-84). Junior Ed Croswell (Philadelphia, Pa.) finished with season-high 15 points on a perfect 7-7 from the field. Graduate student Al Durham (Lilburn, Ga.) also contributed 15 second half points. Graduate student Noah Horchler (Melbourne Beach, Fla.) chipped in with 14 points, including four three-pointers (two in the last three minutes).

“Our team is very close and connected. This team has really bought into their roles,” Cooley said. “They have been a pleasure to coach.”

FIRST HALF:

The Friars forced turnovers on the first two defensive possessions. At the 18:55 mark, Nate Watson (Portsmouth, Va.) opened the game for the Friars with a floater.
Horchler knocked down the first three-pointer of the game for the Friars at the 15:43 mark. The Friars held a 9-0 lead at the first media timeout.
The Hoyas did not score until the 13:14 mark, as Donald Carey buried a three-pointer from the left wing for the Hoyas. The Friars led 13-3.
With 8:31 to play in the half, Justin Minaya (Harrington Park, N.J.) got into the scoring column with a three-point basket from the left corner. The Friars’ lead extended to 12.
Heading into the final stretch of the half, the Hoyas found a spark offensively and went on a 9-2 scoring run. At the 5:18 mark, Durham found Croswell to put an end to the run.
Despite their early offensive struggles, the Hoyas had success from three-point territory. With 3:41 remaining in the half, the Hoyas notched their sixth three-point basket. PC led 32-28.
Croswell was the only Friar to reach double figures before halftime. Jared Bynum (Largo, Md.) and Croswell accounted for 22 of the Friars’ 24 bench points in the first half.
Georgetown’s Tyler Beard buried a buzzer-beater three-pointer to end the half. The Friars ended the half on a scoring drought of over two minutes.
PC led by three, 37-34, at halftime.
Providence shot 15-29 (51.7%) from the field, 4-9 (44.4%) from three, and 3-4 (75%) from the free throw line.
Georgetown shot 13-33 (39.4%) from the field, 7-12 (58.4%) from three, and 1-2 (50%) from the free throw line.
SECOND HALF:

Alyn Breed (Powder Springs, Ga.) opened up the second half for the Friars from the free throw line. Shortly after, Breed added a three-pointer from the right corner, his first field goal of the game.
At the 16:12 mark, Minaya found Watson for a wide-open dunk. The Hoyas used a timeout as the Friars regained a double-digit lead, 46-36.
The Friars got hot as the second half progressed, with Durham leading the offensive surge.
Georgetown fought back with a 10-2 scoring run ahead of the 7:33 media timeout. With six minutes to play, Georgetown’s Donald Carey stole the ball and finished in transition.
With five minutes to play, the Friars lead was down to four points. Minaya answered with a timely three-pointer at the 4:07 mark. PC led 67-60.
With less than two minutes remaining, Horchler and Georgetown’s Kaiden Rice traded three-pointers. The Friars held a 75-68 lead.
The Friars never surrendered the lead in the game.
NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:

Providence finished 27-51 (52.9%) from the field, 9-19 (47.4%) from three, and 20-22 (90.9%) from the free throw line.
Georgetown finished 26-65 (40.0%) from the field, 13-23 (56.5%) from three, and 10-11 (90.9%) from the free throw line.
Georgetown’s 13 three-pointers are the most the Friars have allowed in a game this season.
Four players finished in double-figures for the Friars, in Croswell (15), Durham (15), Horchler (14), and Watson (10).
Donald Carey led the way for the Hoyas with a game-high 21 points, and team-highs seven rebounds and four steals.
Kaiden Rice recorded 19 points, including five three-pointers for the Hoyas.
Tonight marked the 78th all-time meeting between the Friars and Hoyas.
The Friars now hold a 7-1 record in their white uniforms this season.
Tonight marked the Friars’ first game in 12 days. The Friars missed three games due to a Covid pause within the team.
The Friars have been ranked for five consecutive weeks after entering the polls on December 20, 2021.
Attendance: 9,108
WHAT’S NEXT:

The Friars take on the Butler Bulldogs on Sunday, Jan. 23 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 12:00 p.m. on FS1.
Providence holds a 13-5 all-time record versus Butler, including a 6-2 edge at home. Last season, the teams split the season series, with each team winning at home.