#11 Providence Survives DePaul in OT to Win Eighth Straight

The No. 11/11 Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the DePaul Blue Demons, 76-73, on Saturday, February 12 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. With the win, the Friars improved to 21-2 overall for the first time since the 1972-73 season and 11-1 in BIG EAST play for the first time in program history. Junior Jared Bynum (Largo, Md.) led the Friars in scoring for the third consecutive game, recording 25 points. Bynum added a game-high six assists and also chipped in with seven rebounds. Graduate students Al Durham (Lilburn, Ga.) and Nate Watson (Portsmouth, Va.) each contributed 16 points for the Friars. Durham was perfect from the free throw line, shooting 12-12.

“I have no words to explain the appreciation that I have for our fans and our students,” Head Coach Ed Cooley said. “That was one of the harder games I’ve ever coached, and we couldn’t have won without our crowd.”

FIRST HALF:

Watson scored the first two baskets for the Friars. At the first media timeout of the game, the game was knotted at six.
With the Friars trailing, Bynum entered the game and scored on back-to-back possessions, including the team’s first three-pointer. DePaul led 12-11.
At the 7:57 mark, DePaul extended their lead to eight, 19-11. Bynum continued his scoring streak on the next possession, ending the Friars’ four-minute scoring drought.
The Friars trailed by nine with less than six minutes to play. At the 5:38 mark, Bynum found Watson for a highlight alley-oop slam.
With 3:22 to play in the half, Brycen Goodine (New Bedford, Mass.) brought a spark for the Friars with a three-pointer off the bench. PC trailed 24-22.
On the following possession, Ed Croswell (Philadelphia, Pa.) blocked a shot, and Bynum took the ball coast-to-coast for the finish. The basket capped off a 9-2 scoring run, as the Friars narrowed the gap to two.
The Blue Demons led at halftime, 28-24.
Providence shot 10-25 (40.0%) from the field, 2-11 (18.2%) from three, and 2-2 (100%) from the free throw line.
DePaul shot 13-34 (38.2%) from the field, 2-8 (25.0%) from three, and 0-1 (0%) from the free throw line.
SECOND HALF:

Noah Horchler (Melbourne Beach, Fla.) got in the scoring column with the first basket of the half for the Friars.
The Blue Demons extended their lead to double digits with a 9-0 run early in the half. DePaul’s Philmon Gebrewhit buried a three-pointer to complete the run.
PC quickly answered, as Bynum scored on each end of a 7-0 run to bring the Friars within six, 39-33.
DePaul’s David Jones was the leading contributor on offense as the Blue Demons maintained their lead. At the 11:45 media timeout, the Blue Demons led 48-40.
Midway through the half, the Friars made inroads on the deficit. Alyn Breed (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Bynum each knocked down a three-pointer.
“I eat, sleep, and breathe basketball,” Bynum said. “Being in a program and culture that does the same thing that I do, and loves basketball the same way I do, it gives me a lot of confidence.”
Ahead of the 7:05 timeout, Croswell drove and finished a wide-open dunk. DePaul’s lead was down to four, 53-49. Each team endured a short scoring drought over the next stretch.
At the 4:32 mark, Horchler connected on a timely three-pointer. DePaul held a one-possession lead, 57-54, at the final media timeout of regulation.
At the 1:34 mark, Durham found Watson for an alley-oop to tie the game at 58.
The Friars earned the defensive stop on the next possession. On the other end of the floor, Watson got the offensive rebound after a miss, drew contact, and made both free throws to give the Friars the lead, 60-58.
At the 0:20 mark, DePaul’s Nick Ongenda made a jump hook to tie the game.
Bynum missed the potential game-winner in the final seconds of regulation.
The game was level at 60 at the end of regulation.
OVERTIME:

Durham scored the first points of the five-minute overtime period from the free throw line. Next, Watson scored in the paint to give the Friars a four-point cushion.
At the 2:47 mark, Horchler added another basket. David Jones responded for the Blue Demons by scoring on back-to-back possessions. The Friars’ lead was down to 68-67.
Entering the final 30 seconds of overtime, PC led 72-69.
With 0:06 remaining, the Friars held a one-point lead, 74-73. Durham received the inbound pass and was fouled. He converted both free throws to extend the lead to three.
DePaul came up short on their final attempt at tying the game.
NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:

Providence finished 25-59 (42.4%) from the field, 7-23 (30.4%) from three, and 19-22 (86.4%) from the free throw line.
DePaul finished 29-69 (42.0%) from the field, 7-19 (36.8%) from three, and 8-14 (57.1%) from the free throw line.
The rebound battle was tight, with the Friars out-rebounding DePaul by one, 39-38.
The Blue Demons held the lead for 73.3% of the game, while the Friars led for only 14.1%.
David Jones finished with a double-double for the Blue Demons, recording a team-high 19 points and game-high 10 rebounds.
The Friars have won eight consecutive BIG EAST regular season games in the same season for the first time in program history.
The Friars have been ranked for eight consecutive weeks after entering the polls on December 20, 2021.
The Friars have won 20 or more games in a season for the 28th time.
Attendance – 12,810
WHAT’S NEXT:

The No. 11/11 Friars take on the No. 15/15 Villanova Wildcats on Tuesday, February 15 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Villanova holds a 68-41 all-time edge versus the Friars. This is the Friars’ first matchup against Villanova this season. The last time the two teams met in Providence, the Friars earned a 95-90 win in overtime at Alumni Hall on December 27, 2021. The teams split the season series last year.
-GO FRIARS!-