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Alpha Diallo Shines Against Hoyas

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The Friars needed this one.

Providence snapped a three game losing streak by fighting off Georgetown on a night in which their offense struggled in the first half and Emmitt Holt and Rodney Bullock spent long portions of the second on the bench in foul trouble.

Jalen Lindsey (19 points) shot the ball beautifully in PC’s 76-70 victory, making 4-6 from deep, and Kyron Cartwright continues to evolve into a viable scoring threat from the point guard position (15 points and key baskets early when PC sputtered), but perhaps most promising was the assertiveness shown by freshman Alpha Diallo.

Yes, the Friars and their fanbase needed this win after a brutal three game stretch that began with a surprising loss at Boston College and closed with an uglier one versus Butler, but they also need to see progress from the underclassmen and Diallo took a big step forward on Wednesday night.

The Friars don’t win this game without him.

PC scored 11 points in the game’s first four and a half minutes, but when Georgetown threw a 2-3 zone at them the Friars were perplexed.

Over the next 10 minutes Providence made only two field goals — a step back jumper by Cartwright and a gift when Georgetown saved the ball under their own basket directly to Bullock for a layup.

Enter Diallo.

Soon after checking into the game Diallo received the ball in the middle of the zone, drew a defender and found Bullock for a dunk off of a slick bounce pass.

On Providence’s next possession they once again hit Diallo at the free throw line. He drew multiple defenders and kicked it out to Lindsey who threw a pump fake, dribbled once and knocked down an open jumper.

Over the next two minutes Diallo grabbed a rebound away from Georgetown center Bradley Hayes, came up with a steal when the Hoyas tried to post him up, and kept a missed Lindsey free throw alive with a tap before corralling the offensive board.

It’s the little things — a lot of little things — that makes Diallo valuable.

Then with roughly 1:30 remaining in the first half PC went back to Diallo at the free throw line. This time we saw a glimpse of the scorer he can become. He threw a terrific pump fake to get himself into the lane before finishing on a pretty floater over another Georgetown center, Jessie Govan.

In the second half the freshman really emerged.

With Bullock on the bench with four fouls, Diallo started making plays at critical moments:

  • 10:30: With PC trailing 48-46 he swung the ball to Lindsey for a corner 3 to give Providence a one point lead.
  • 8:53: The Friars trailed by a point when Diallo came off of screen and scored between two Hoyas in the paint while being fouled. He made the free throw and PC was back up two.
  • 8:04: A Govan jumper tied the game, but Diallo answered on the other end with a short jumper of his own.

Diallo grabbed a pair of rebounds in the final two minutes to close his best game as a Friar to date: 20 minutes, seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

 

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