Gaines Block Helps PC Seal Road Win at Xavier Wednesday

Nick Coit,

Providence College Press Release

CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the Xavier Musketeers (13-13, 7-8 BIG EAST), 79-75, on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Friars improved to 18-9 overall and 9-7 in BIG EAST play. This marks the third consecutive win and the fifth Quad 1 victory this season for the Friars. Junior guard Devin Carter (Miami, Fla.) led the Friars with his third consecutive double-double (fourth in last five games) on 22 points and 11 rebounds.  He also had seven assists and four blocks. Jayden Pierre (Elizabeth, N.J.) tied a career-high with 17 points on the night, including a 3-6 performance from three-point territory.

“Really proud of our team for their effort.” Head Coach Kim English said. “Tough game, tough environment, but we found a way to win.”

 FIRST HALF:

•The game stayed scoreless for the first minute of the match. Freshman Rich Barron (Chicago, Ill.) opened the game’s scoring with a three at the 18:40 mark. Xavier quickly countered with a 6-0 run that lasted over a minute. Headed into the first media timeout (15:42 mark), the Friars trailed, 9-7.

•After the timeout, the Musketeers continued with a 7-0 surge to force a PC timeout with 14:29 left to play.

•Xavier widened its lead to eight points by the under-12 media timeout (10:57 mark), with the Musketeers leading 22-14.

• During Xavier’s 2:33 scoring drought, the Friars capitalized by sinking back-to-back threes from Corey Floyd, Jr. (Franklin, N.J.) and Carter, narrowing the deficit to three points. With 4:12 remaining on the clock, Jayden Pierre scored a driving layup, granting Providence its first lead since the opening two minutes of the game, 30-29. This basket marked Providence’s 11th point in a crucial 11-1 run for the Friars.

•Xavier responded with a 9-3 run over the remaining three minutes of the half. As the halftime whistle blew, the Friars trailed by five, 38-33.

•Providence tallied five blocks in the first half. The Friars average 4.5 blocks per game this season.

•Providence shot 11-34 (32.4%) from the field, 4-17 (23.5%) from three, and 7-9 (77.8%) from the free-throw line.•Xavier shot 15-32 (46.9%) from the field, 6-12 (50.0%) from three, and 2-5 (40.0%) from the free-throw line. SECOND HALF:        •Ticket Gaines (Buffalo, N.Y.) ignited the second-half scoring for the Friars with an emphatic dunk. At the first media timeout (17:06 mark) the Musketeers extended their lead to seven, 46-39.

•Led by Pierre and Barron, who contributed seven and six points, respectively, in the second half, the Friars narrowed the gap to just one point with 14:16 left to play, 53-52.

•The two teams continued to battle. With about 11 minutes left to play, the Friars mounted a 6-0 surge. At the 10:22 mark, Floyd, Jr., scored a driving layup to prompt a Xavier timeout. The Musketeers held a slim, one-point lead, 61-60.

•After sinking two free throws, Floyd, Jr. tied the game at 66 with 7:27 on the clock. It marked the third tie of the night.

•Pierre reclaimed the lead with a three from deep to prompt a Xavier timeout. The Friars held a three-point advantage at the 4:51 mark, 71-69.

•The Friars continued strong offensively with a 6-0 run. At the final media timeout (3:51 mark), the Friars led 74-69.

•The Musketeers outscored the Friars 6-0 to close the gap to two, 77-75. Xavier then called a timeout with 00:24 left in the half.

•Ticket Gaines made a crucial block in the final seconds of the game to secure the win for the Friars.  He controlled the rebound and was fouled.  He then hit his two free throws to seal the victory, 79-75.

 

NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:         •Providence finished 27-62 (43.5%) from the field, 9-28 (32.1%) from three and 16-20 (80.0%) from the free throw line.   •Xavier finished 27-63 (42.9%) from the field, 7-19 (36.8%) from three and 14-23 (60.9%) from the free throw line.

•Four Friars finished in double figures: Carter (22), Pierre (17), Floyd, Jr., (11) and Barron (10).

•The Friars are 17-2 this season when scoring 71 or more points.

•Desmond Claude led the way for Xavier with 22 points.

•Carter posted his 10th season and third consecutive double-double (22 pts, 11 rb).

•Pierre tied his career-record in points (17), field goals (seven), and three-pointers (three).

•Rafael Castro scored four points and grabbed six rebounds in 12 minutes of action.

•The Friars are now 5-6 in Quad 1 games this season.

•The Friars are now 3-10 all-time at the Cintas Center.

 

WHAT’S NEXT:         • The Friars will travel to Milwaukee, Wis., on Wednesday, Feb. 28 to play No.7/8 Marquette University at the Fiserv Forum. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1

•The Golden Eagles hold a 15-22 all-time series advantage over the Friars. In the first meeting this season, the Friars upset the then-ranked No.6/6 Marquette, 72-57, on Dec.19 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I.

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