Wednesday, January 04, 2023
Game delayed, staff wiping down the floor PHOTO: GoLocal
Providence College men’s basketball upset the University of Connecticut Huskies 73-61 Wednesday night at the AMP.
The Friars were led by Bryce Hopkins, 27 points, and PC received a breakout game by Noah Locke, who scored 17 points, including 3 of 6 from the 3-point line.
“Our men stepped up to the challenge,” PC Coach Ed Cooley. “Our supporters and crowd played a huge role in this win. Their energy and passion made for a great, high-level college basketball game.”
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Ed Croswell added 13 points and Devin Carter scored 11.
The win pushed the Friars to 13-3 and 5-0 in the Big East.
UConn falls to 14-2 and 3-2 in the Big East.
The Friars have now beaten two top-25 teams – Marquette and UConn.
The Blemish on the Night
Once again, the night was plagued by wetness on the court. In previous seasons games had to be delayed or rescheduled.
The RI Convention Center has repeatedly claimed they have taken the necessary action to correct the problem, but players repeatedly slipped and fell. The referees stopped the game at one point to have maintenance staff dry to mop the court.
FIRST HALF:
– Hopkins drove hard to the rim for the Friars’ first basket.
– After a 7-2 start for the Huskies, the Friars answered with back-to-back baskets to tie the game, a mid-range jumper from Locke and a three-ball from Carter.
– With just under 10 minutes left in the half, Hopkins made another move to the rim, turning around and nailing the hook shot. The game was even at 13.
– Hopkins drained a contested three-pointer from the left wing with six minutes until the half. It marked the Friars’ first field goal in four minutes of action. PC trailed 20-18.
– On the next possession for the Friars, Hopkins drove to the rim and evaded defenders in the paint for a layup and his fifth straight point. The game was level once again, 20-20.
– Heading into the final media timeout of the half, UConn had missed eight of their last nine field goal attempts, as well as six of their first seven three-point attempts.
– With three minutes until halftime, the Friars took their first lead of the game, 25-24, with Hopkins’ second three-pointer of the game. Hopkins was the first player to enter double figures.
– With 1:27 left in the half, Clifton Moore (Ambler, Pa.) hustled for an offensive rebound and got the ball to Locke, who delivered with his second three-ball of the game.
– After forcing a turnover on the ensuing possession, the Friars nailed another three-pointer, with Corey Floyd, Jr. stepping up with his first shot.
– The Friars took a three-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 33-30.
– The Huskies held a firm advantage on the inside in the first half, out-scoring the Friars 22-8.
– Providence shot 10-24 (41.7%) from the field, 5-9 (55.6%) from three and 8-10 (80.0%) from the free throw line.
– UConn shot 13-32 (40.6%) from the field, 1-7 (14.3%) from three and 3-6 (50.0%) from the free throw line.
SECOND HALF:
– Hopkins opened the second half by drawing contact and converting a three-point play.
– The Friars took a 40-36 lead into the first timeout of the half (15:41 mark). Heading into the timeout, the Friars had held the Huskies scoreless for a stretch of 2:38 minutes.
– At the 14:10 mark, UConn’s Jordan Hawkins ended the team’s cold streak from beyond the arc. Two possessions later, Locke answered for the Friars with a three-ball of his own. PC led 47-43.
– With 11:20 remaining, Jayden Pierre found Croswell on the run for an emphatic fastbreak slam.
– UConn’s Jordan Hawkins and PC’s Carter traded three-balls with 10 minutes left to play. Then, Hopkins rejected Hawkins’ shot on the ensuing Huskies possession. PC led by nine, 55-46.
– At the 9:04 mark, Carter gave the Friars a double-digit advantage from the free-throw line.
– UConn’s Alex Karaban buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five for the Huskies at the 5:46 mark.
– At the final half timeout (3:33 mark), the Friars led by nine, 64-55.
– With 2:38 remaining, Locke knocked down a second-chance three-pointer to give the Friars a double-digit lead, 67-55.
– The Friars led 71-59 entering the final minute. UConn had missed seven of their last eight attempts.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Providence finished 18-49 (36.7%) from the field, 8-18 (44.4%) from three and 29-35 (82.9%) from the free throw line.
UConn finished 23-63 (36.5%) from the field, 5-22 (22.7%) from three and 10-19 (52.6%) from the free throw line.
Four players finished in double figures for the Friars, in Hopkins (27), Locke (17), Croswell (13) and Carter (11).
The Friars had a tight edge in the rebound battle, hauling in two more boards than the Huskies (41-39). UConn had five more offensive rebounds.
The Huskies controlled the points in the paint differential by a margin of 34-18.
After trailing until the 1:25 mark of the first half, the Friars did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the game.
Jordan Hawkins led the way for the Huskies with 15. Donovan Clingan finished with a double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds.
After scoring 11 points in the first half, the Friars held UConn’s Adama Sanogo scoreless in the second half.
Attendance – 12,400
NOTES:
The Friars played their second BIG EAST home game of the season on Wednesday and defeated consecutive ranked teams at home for the first time since 2020.
PC and UConn have not played at the AMP since Jan. 31, 2013. UConn earned an 82-79 win in overtime in 2013.
The Friars have started BIG EAST play 5-0 for the first time ever.
No. 4/5 UConn is the highest-ranked opponent to play at the AMP since the Friars defeated No. 3/2 Villanova on Feb. 14, 2018.
The Friars are 9-0 at home this season, 30-1 in their last 31 games at the AMP and 612-236 (.721) all-time.
The Friars held UConn to their lowest point total of the season.
Carter was named BIG EAST Honor Roll on Jan. 2. He scored 20 or more points in the previous three games versus Marquette, Butler and DePaul. He averaged four steals per game during that stretch.
NEXT:
The Friars will remain home and take on the St. John’s Red Storm this Saturday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is set for 12:00 pm at the AMP. The game will be televised on FS1.
St. John’s holds a 64-56 all-time advantage over the Friars. The Friars won each of their two matchups last season.
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