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Friars, Henton Rebound in OT

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For much of this season Ed Cooley has stressed the importance of senior leadership. He got loads of it late in overtime as Providence held on to defeat Xavier 69-66 on Thursday night.

The Friars controlled this one for the first 38 minutes, leading 60-51 with under two minutes to play before Xavier ripped off a 9-0 run aided by three ugly PC turnovers that led to breakouts and layups on the other end.

In season’s past the Friars would have carried a hangover with them into the overtime session, but the winning persona this team took on last season has carried over into 2015 — thanks in large part to veteran leadership.

With Providence trailing by a basket with a little over a minute remaining on the clock Cooley’s Friars got three straight critical plays out of their seniors:

1. LaDontae Henton ripped an offensive rebound away from Xavier and finished through contact to tie the game at 64 with 1:10 remaining.

2. On the ensuing possession Carson Desrosiers blocked his fourth shot of the game late into the shot clock. The rebound was corralled by Kris Dunn (20 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) who threw a daring (one could argue dangerous) 40 foot pass to a covered Henton.

3. Henton snared the ball with two men on him and powered it through while being fouled. His free throw gave Providence a three point advantage they would not relinquish.

And with that the Friars are 5-2 and in a three-way tie for first place in the Big East.

“I thought it was an absolute culture win where our leaders refused to let us lose this type of game,” said Cooley.

Henton had gone quiet for much of the second half, partly because of foul trouble, but he was there at the end making the two biggest shots of the game, “LaDontae is playing at such a (high) level. LaDontae is having one of those senior, special years. You don’t see what he’s doing come around too often, where you see his maturity, his sense of leadership. Man, those are two big time plays. Those are player of the year-type plays.”

Henton finished with a player of the year stat line as well — 24 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes.

Cooley acknowledged the turnovers in the final minute, taking blame for Xavier getting back into the game late, “That was the coach’s fault. That was my fault. I’ve got to take full responsibility for those turnovers. I had a couple of timeouts that I could have used that I didn’t, so those turnovers were on me, not the players.”

Providence held the best offensive team in the Big East to 20 first half points, and just 40% shooting on the night. If not for a free throw barrage in the second half (21 attempts over the final 20 minutes) Xavier would have had trouble mustering much of an offense against a defense that excelled due to the preparation of the coaching staff and the execution of the players. When the Providence zone began to spring leaks in the second half they transitioned to man for a while and began getting stops again.

While Dunn and Henton were once again the headliners, Cooley gave a nod to senior forward Ted Bancroft who he inserted in the lineup in overtime. Why did he do so? “I talked to the team right after the game. The only reason why I put Ted in the game is because Ted is a winner. Ted knows how to win. Every day he prepares the guys who play major minutes,” Cooley said. “He’s a young man that I just believe in.”

Cooley heaped praise upon the leadership of Dunn and Henton, but is encouraged with the minutes he’s getting from his younger role players, “When you look at this Providence team, LaDontae played last year, Tyler (Harris) played last year, and Carson played last year. And Carson played half the game. So for what these kids are doing, I hope all of you in this room appreciate what these young kids are bringing — passion, energy and enthusiasm to Friartown.”

Cooley has brought winning back to Friartown. The Friars are now 15-5 on the season and 5-2 in the Big East — tops in the league.

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

 

23 Comments

  1. David Levesque

    January 23, 2015 at 3:42 am

    Really? They all but gave the game away! Harris is beyond bad and Ed couldn’t draw up an end of regulation play!

  2. Chris Primini

    January 23, 2015 at 3:45 am

    Good point Dave
    I can’t like that though

  3. Gretchen Needham

    January 23, 2015 at 3:46 am

    Sounds like the refs were dreadful, according to John and Joey.

  4. Chris Primini

    January 23, 2015 at 3:47 am

    Harris declared for NBA draft today. Did they expand it to seven rounds?

  5. Ken Potvin

    January 23, 2015 at 3:49 am

    No such thing as a bad win, maybe ugly win but still pull it out after going down 2 in OT 5-2 in big east way to go Friars

  6. Janice Petrella Lynch

    January 23, 2015 at 3:52 am

    Teresa Katherine Jim Lynch Mike Lynch … Against GU? Tickets?!?

  7. Nate Joseph

    January 23, 2015 at 3:53 am

    Adam Joseph

  8. Derec Lamendola

    January 23, 2015 at 4:02 am

    LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KRiSDUNN Shrd Be A JUNIOR This Year You KNOW And LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SO PUMT PUMT PUMT PUMT PUMT For You Guyas Goood Win GOT GO School Tommmerrrow And Pasrtkias Perktias Tommmerrrrrow And KNOW Pasrtkis Saturday SNOW STROM And GOT Rest UP This Weekkend And Pasrtkias SUNDAY And Watch THE Fim ON SUNAY About Derec Lamedoa And School Monday Pasrtkias All NIGHT And Get Redey For The Yusch Yurch BIG East Next Tuesday Ugenst Depaul And I Won’t GO OUT With Merzade ASK Hear UGEN She DiD IT Ugen Tonight THIS The Last Time ASK STAY Side Witn Derec Lamendol ON TUESDAY Pleeys We Going Dscing This Year

  9. David Randall

    January 23, 2015 at 4:11 am

    A win is a win, xavier was top 3 point shooting team, great defensive plan by cooley!!!!! First place and people still complaining.top recruits big east championship, remember keno davis!!!!!!!!

  10. Scott Geer

    January 23, 2015 at 4:31 am

    Learning experience for this team on how to close out a game. Multiple turnovers under two minutes breathed life into Xavier. It reminded me of Josh Fortune games last season when under ball pressure. But credit Cooley for subbing Bancroft for Cartwright in OT. That’s a move only confident coaches can do. They got very lucky in the end with some favorable home court no calls and terrible free throw shooting by the Musketeers. Overall though, they earned this win.

  11. Aaron Colaiacomo

    January 23, 2015 at 4:52 am

    Always first to call five white lightning go TED!!!!

  12. Christopher William Raymond

    January 23, 2015 at 5:32 am

    David Levesque I think Kris Dunn was supposed to try and get into the lane he was cut off I believe Carson was his second option granted I wouldn’t want Carson taking the three but it was wide open and he’s not a completely horrible shot

  13. Tom Hopper

    January 23, 2015 at 6:34 am

    Ive been to two games now st johns and tonight they were lucky to pull out a win tonight ! Ima little dissapointed with the offense bad. Standing around high pick and roll or nothing i like cooley but needs to work on o and yesive coached and watched alot of bball

  14. Brian Shortsleeve

    January 23, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Go get em!!

  15. Jeremy Nunes

    January 23, 2015 at 11:05 am

    They start 2 freshman and a sophomore people. We’re still in the growing process with this team as a whole yet we’re tied for first. Enjoy it!

  16. Nancy Noon Cronin

    January 23, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    Absolutely – Coach Cooley has brought winning back to Friartown!

  17. Cathy Foor

    January 23, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    Awesome! Keep it up!

  18. Frank Landry

    January 23, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    Love this team. Big east
    Is about getting better every game building toward big east tournament. Love coach he will get them there. 4 freshman and Dunn’s first full year. I believe Harris is growing
    Into his role. Be patient
    Come March the team will compete. Enjoy the
    Passion and effort coach will bring improvement.

  19. Jack Durkan

    January 23, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Harris better work on showing he can play college ball….lousy performance last night, almost gave the game away. His defensive play is poor as well as the way he plays as a team member. There is a real reason that he is not starting and it is because he needs to grow dramatically into the abilities he has especially on his understanding of what he is doing on the court. He looks lost most of the time with no focus whatsoever.

  20. Jack Durkan

    January 23, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Yesterdays performance was poor at best. The first half the team played good defense but then they completely fell apart. Xavier solidly beat them in the second half and like St Johns relegates PC to the bottem half of the league. Remember they will be on the road soon and the worm will turn. If they weren’t playing in the Dunk they would have been slaughtered last night. The Freshmen players have got to up their game dramatically: Has Lindsey made a 3 yet. You better get ready to rebound because he has been terrible. Cartright is sloppy in ball handling and focus and Bentil plays good then horrible. This could be a great team and the Coaching is excellent but major changes in intensity and focus by most players needs to happen now if this team is going to reach the next level. Go PC!

  21. Chris Primini

    January 23, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    Yeah he’s a space cadet. It’s a two man team. That will get exploited very soon.

  22. Jeremy Nunes

    January 23, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    Josh Fortune was supposed to be our 3rd option this year, his leaving really hurts on offense with a young team

  23. Hamilkarr Roldan

    January 24, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Tyler Harris = bench

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