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Nova Neutralizes PC

Dunn Driving Nova

The Dunkin Donuts Center was ready to explode against #6 Villanova, but the Big East’s best team — and stingiest defense — wouldn’t allow it. The Wildcats came to Providence and offered up a reminder of what makes them the league’s toughest team, controlling the game throughout in a 74-68 victory.

“We played an outstanding team,” Ed Cooley said. “I think Villanova can win a national championship.”

Providence trailed 37-34 midway through the second half, but Villanova used an 11-0 run to open up a 14 point advantage. PC wouldn’t get to within one possession the rest of the way.

While Cooley praised Villanova for their execution and experience, he couldn’t help but reflect on missed opportunities and what he called “a lack of recognition” from his Friars.

“End of the day, you have to make plays and I thought some of our mistakes they took advantage of,” said Cooley — citing leaving shooters open for corner 3-pointers (a focus of the scouting report coming in) Villanova winning the battle for 50-50 balls, and allowing second chance opportunities off of missed foul shots.

“I thought our crowd was great, but we played on our heels for about 34 minutes,” said Cooley, “We didn’t attack the way we wanted to and that was disappointing to see.”

Tyler Harris provided a spark with 17 points and LaDontae Henton scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half, but this was an uphill battle throughout for the Friars who made just 11 of their first 34 shots from the field and struggled to contain Nova’s guards off of the bounce.

Villanova made 50% of their shots and 27-37 from the free throw line (a whopping 33 in the second half alone) — an impossible formula for a Friar team that can struggle at times to score. Still, PC made 8-18 from beyond the 3-point line, but it wasn’t enough for the Friars who dropped to 17-8 on the season and 7-5 in the Big East.

Nova center Daniel Ochefu proved to be a difficult matchup on the interior, making all seven of his shots from the field and 5-7 at the free throw line on his way to a 19 point, nine rebound night, while Ryan Arcidiacono and Darrun Hilliard combined to scored 36 points out of the backcourt.

Providence has now dropped three of their last four games during their most difficult stretch of the season, and awaits a big game on Saturday at home against Seton Hall.

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

16 Comments

  1. Jeremy Nunes

    February 12, 2015 at 4:09 am

    Great coverage Craig. This one wasn’t on the refs, students or fans. The Friars were outplayed, out coached and outclassed tonight. Give Nova credit, there’s a reason they’re #6 in the country. Gotta bounce back Saturday vs a vulnerable Hall team. The future is still bright in Friar Town!!

  2. Pam Greene

    February 12, 2015 at 4:10 am

    While the FRIARS did not play well at all!!! Those refs were a BIG EAST EMBARRASSMENT!!!! They could not have been any more pro Nova if they tried!!! I hate to sound like sour grapes….& I admit the FRIARS WERE not at the top of their game but the refs took so many things away from them!!!! Those BIG EAST refs tonite should b checked out!!!! TERRIBLE!!!

  3. Derec Lamendola

    February 12, 2015 at 4:40 am

    lETS GOOOOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Criag Leghton IS Derec Lamendola IM Doing 3 4 Plerys TOMMMMERRROW IS The BiG BIG BIG BIG BIG MEEEEDING Tommmmmmmerrrrrow And Derec Lamemdola SO ANGREAY TONIGHT SMILING Evvery Thing AT MY HOUSE IM AM ARICKTSHOL TOBIGHT Providence Collllege Mwns Basket Ballll Friars TOP 25 WHO WHO WHO WHO CARS CARAS ABOUT THE Schduile And DEREC LAMENDOLA HATS LSTING Becuase I Won’t Win Right Now Satring Noa This The PC Porgam YOU KNOW

  4. Craig Leighton

    February 12, 2015 at 4:40 am

    Jeremy this article was written by Kevin, who did a great job with it.

  5. Melissa Medeiros

    February 12, 2015 at 4:52 am

    Villanova is such a strong team

  6. Jamie Robichaud

    February 12, 2015 at 4:57 am

    The Friar big men are too soft and play with no heart. They are going to be a major reason why we go 1 and done in the tourney. No excuse for lack of defensive rebounds off of free throws. Its pathetic.

  7. David Levesque

    February 12, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Team free throw shooting is awful!

  8. Vince Colonna

    February 12, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    The Henton foul on Deciacomo 3 pntr w 4 mins left was the dagger. We were on a roll. Just a dumb play. No hustle.

  9. Fred Pucillo

    February 12, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    Need more scoring have to start Harris as painfull as that might be

  10. Peter Ricci

    February 12, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    Cooleys 2nd quarter lineup rotations were suspect. Along with back breaking bad foul calls from refs at key moments

  11. Mario Teixeira

    February 12, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    If you think the refs had nothing to do with the game you should stop watching bball!

  12. Mario Teixeira

    February 12, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Bahaaaaa. That wasnt a foul!!!!!

  13. John McAleavey

    February 12, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    The Friars are just not ready for prime time yet. Villanova is too good, too deep, and too determined then PC is at the moment. Providence just does not have enough good guard play aside from Kris Dunn to beat big time teams.

  14. Rick Williams

    February 12, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    Last night’s loss served notice to let Friarland that we still have some work to do between now and March Madness. Nova answered every PC run and were the better team last night. But the Friars were definitely competitive.

  15. Jeremy Nunes

    February 12, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    The refs weren’t good at all last night but that’s not why they lost. Villanova made big shots when they had to, got easy looks underneath and stifled our offense. Blaming the refs is such a simplistic view of the game.

  16. Norman Lavallee

    February 13, 2015 at 2:08 am

    First real difficult test this season where the Friars needed Bryce Cotton’s outside jumper! The refs were horribly inconsistent. I never dwell on the refs controlling the game. They let the Novan’s hand check Henton all night! In fairness to Villanova, they are a Final Four caliber team with a seasoned team and a great coach

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