Friars Beat Ed Cooley’s Hoyas Thanks To Devin Carter’s Late Game Heroics

The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the Georgetown Hoyas (8-12, 1-8 BIG EAST), 84-76, to earn its third straight win on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. The Friars improved to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in BIG EAST play. Junior Devin Carter led the way with a game-high 29 points, shooting 10-14 from the field. He also made four steals and blocked two shots. Graduate student Josh Oduro tacked on 22 points on 8-10 shooting.

“I’m really proud of our guys for withstanding a really good second half run by [Georgetown],” Head Coach Kim English said. “We found a way to answer with two minutes in the game to pull out the victory, with some big-time plays by [Carter and Oduro].”

FIRST HALF:

Carter knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing on the Friars’ first possession.
Georgetown held an early 9-7 lead at the game’s first media timeout (15:39 mark).
Jayden Epps scored seven of Georgetown’s first nine. Oduro had six of PC’s first nine.
With 11:04 remaining, Corey Floyd, Jr. (Franklin, N.J.) pushed the pace and delivered a full-court alley-oop pass to Carter, who finished the play with a two-handed slam. PC regained the lead, 16-14.
At the 8:07 mark, Carter finished another reverse dunk off an alley-oop pass from Jayden Pierre (Elizabeth, N.J.). The dunk began a 10-0 surge for the Friars. PC led 30-22.
During their scoring run, the Friars held Georgetown scoreless for nearly five minutes of action.
The Friars led 37-33 at halftime.
Oduro (14 points) and Carter (11 points) each notched double figures for the Friars before halftime. Oduro shot a perfect 6-6 from the field in the first half.
Providence shot 13-22 (59.1%) from the field, 3-10 (30.0%) from three and 8-11 (72.7%) from the free throw line.
Georgetown shot 12-34 (35.3%) from the field, 3-11 (27.3%) from three and 6-6 (100%) from the free throw line.
SECOND HALF:

Pierre scored two of the first three baskets in the second half for the Friars.
Providence went on a 9-2 scoring run early in the half. The Friars gained a 48-39 advantage.
With 13:16 remaining, Floyd buried a triple to give the Friars their first double-digit lead of the game. PC led 53-42.
With less than seven minutes left to play, the Hoyas completed a 14-3 run to tie the game at 58. •The teams traded baskets, with Georgetown nailing three-balls on back-to-back possessions. With 4:36 remaining, the game was knotted at 66.
Georgetown was up by one with two minutes to play. The Friars had made three of their last four shots, while the Hoyas had made six of their last seven.
At the 1:53 mark, Carter drained a long-range three-pointer to put the Friars back in front.
Carter stole the ball on the ensuing possession and went coast-to-coast for a layup, drawing a flagrant foul on the play. He made two additional free throws to give the Friars a 75-69 lead.
Carter scored twice more in the final minute to seal the game for the Friars. The Friars made seven of their final eight shots.
NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:

Providence finished 28-49 (57.1%) from the field, 5-19 (26.3%) from three and 23-27 (85.2%) from the free throw line.
Georgetown finished 27-62 (43.5%) from the field, 9-26 (34.6%) from three and 13-18 (72.2%) from the free throw line.
Three Providence players finished in double figures: Carter (29), Oduro (22), and Gaines (14). The Hoyas also finished with three players in double figures.
Jayden Epps led the way for the Hoyas with 26 points (9-27 FG, 3-13 3P).
Georgetown out-rebounded the Friars by two, by a margin of 31-29.
Ed Cooley is one of two former PC coaches that the Friars play this season (Rick Pitino).
The Friars are 13-1 this season when scoring 71 or more points.
Attendance – 12,580
WHAT’S NEXT:

The Friars will travel to Storrs, Conn. to face the No. 1/1 UConn Huskies (17-2, 7-1 BIG EAST) in conference play on Wednesday, Jan.31 at the Gampel Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. on FS1.
UConn holds a 47-31 all-time advantage against the Friars. The Friars split the regular season series last season, with each team winning at home. Last season, the Huskies prevailed over the Friars in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals, 73-66, on Mar. 9, 2023.