Providence Beats DePaul Despite “Embarrassing” Ending

The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the DePaul Blue Demons (3-22, 0-14 BIG EAST), 81-70, on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. The Friars improved to 17-9 overall and 8-7 in BIG EAST play. Junior Devin Carter (Miami, Fla.) and graduate Josh Oduro (Gainesville, Va.) combined for 58 of the Friars’ 81 points. Carter registered his ninth season double-double with 31 points and 13 rebounds shooting 10-14 from the field, a career-best 7-10 from three, and 4-6 from the free-throw line.

FIRST HALF:
•Oduro opened the game’s scoring with a three-pointer from the top of the key. At the first media timeout (15:58 mark), the Friars led, 9-3.
•After the timeout, the Blue Demons mounted a 5-0 surge, narrowing the score to 9-8. Oduro ended the Friars’ three-minute scoring drought by sinking a three.
•At under-12 timeout (11:31 mark), the Friars held a slim advantage over DePaul, 15-14.
•The Friars endured a three minute scoreless run. With 9:34 left to play in the first half, DePaul’s Chico Carter, Jr., scored a layup to give the Blue Demons their first lead of the night. Oduro quickly responded with a layup to regain the lead, 17-16. It marked Oduro’s 10th point of the game.
•Both teams continued to battle for the remainder of the half. At the final media timeout, Providence led by two, 26-24.
•Over a span of three minutes, the Friars went on a 10-2 surge. With 00:34 left on the clock, Carter drained a three to force a DPU timeout.
•Entering the locker-room, the Friars led, 34-30.
•Oduro and Carter accounted for 88.2% of the Friars’ first half points.
•Oduro shot 6-7 from the field, 2-3 from three, and 2-4 from the free-throw line.
•Providence shot 11-23 (47.8%) from the field, 6-18 (33.3%) from three, and 6-12 (50.0%) from the free-throw line.
•DePaul shot 11-29 (37.9%) from the field, 2-9 (22.2%) from three, and 6-9 (66.7%) from the free-throw line.

SECOND HALF:
•Oduro started off the Friars’ second-half scoring with a hook shot in the paint.
•PC outscored the Blue Demons 6-0 over a span of 1:06 minutes, extending the lead to 40-33, the largest of the game. By the first media timeout (15:31 mark) the Friars were up, 44-38.
•Oduro and Carter continued the strong offense combining for 16 points early in the second half. Providence held a 52-42 advantage over DePaul entering the under-12 media timeout, (11:53 mark).
•The Friars continued to pull away from the Blue Demons. With 6:55 left to play, Rafael Castro (Dover, N.J.) sank an emphatic dunk to give the Friars a 12-point advantage, 64-52.
•DePaul rallied in the final 1:30 of the game, finding a 12-0 scoring surge and cutting into the Friars’ 23-point lead, however, they were unable to overcome the Friars and PC finished with an 11-point win, 81-70.

NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS:
•Providence finished 28-60 (46.7%) from the field, 13-34 (38.2%) from three and 12-19 (63.2%) from the free throw line.
•DePaul finished 25-57 (43.9%) from the field, 5-17 (29.4%) from three and 15-23 (65.2%) from the free throw line.
•Two Friars finished in double figures: Carter (31) and Oduro (27).
•The Friars are 16-2 this season when scoring 71 or more points.
•Providence is 8-1 when scoring 10 or more threes in a game.
•Providence improved to 13-0 when leading at halftimer
•Elijah Fisher and Jaden Henley led the way for DePaul with 15 points each on the night.
•Carter posted his ninth double-double of the season (31 pts, 13 rb).
•Attendance- 12,295
•The Friars now hold a 40-13 all-time series advantage over the Blue Demons.
•Carter recorded a career-best seven threes.
•Carter tied his career-record in rebounds (13) and points (31).

WHAT’S NEXT:
• The Friars are back on the road to play Xavier University on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

•The Musketeers hold a 14-11 all-time series advantage over the Friars. In the first meeting this season, the Friars were defeated by Xavier, 85-65 on Jan.13 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I.