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Heartbreak in DC

McClung vs. PC

Twice during Providence’s run to the Big East Tournament Championship game last season Ed Cooley had a decision to make. In both the quarterfinals against Creighton and semifinals versus Xavier, the Friars led by three points in the waning seconds of overtime. PC chose not to foul in either game.

The decision nearly came back to bite Providence in the quarters. A blown defensive assignment led to a wide-open corner three from freshman sharpshooter Mitch Ballock, but the shot rimmed out — keeping PC’s dreams of a fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance alive.

With six seconds left against Xavier, Cooley’s players told him they wanted to defend and not foul. Xavier didn’t get a shot off before the horn and the Friars once again prevailed in overtime.

Last season’s Big East Tournament came to mind as Providence pushed ahead by three points at the end of regulation against Georgetown. Then the unthinkable happened.

Unlike in last year’s Big East Tournament, Cooley said his team was “100 percent trying to foul” at the end of regulation, according to the Providence Journal’s Kevin McNamara.

Credit Providence for bouncing back in overtime. The Friars led by four points with 15 seconds to go in the extra session, but once again late game execution got the better of them. Providence fouled a 3-point shooter with 15 seconds left, but still led by three after a pair of free throws on their next possession.

PC led by three with ten seconds left, but did not want to foul in overtime, according to McNamara. They simply blew a defensive assignment and gave a wide-open top-of-the-key 3 to Hoya freshman James Akinjo before Georgetown prevailed in double overtime.

Edwards Shines in Loss

Lost in the chaos of the two overtime sessions is the tremendous performance of senior guard Drew Edwards. Edwards has been used sparingly this year, and had scored just six points all season before Saturday’s game. He had the best game of his career against Georgetown.

Edwards scored 16 of his 19 points after halftime, making 5-7 from the field, 3-4 from 3, while getting in the mix inside (5 rebounds) and passing well (3 assists). Edwards brings a level of poise to a Providence backcourt that has struggled in that department. He had just one turnover in 29 minutes, and added three steals.

The 19 points were a career high for Edwards, who Cooley trusted enough as freshman to play a 29 combined minutes in NCAA tournament games against USC and North Carolina. A knee injury all but wiped out the next season, and he has not seen consistent minutes since. That should change after Saturday.

It’s hard to see positive in a loss Cooley deemed “brutal”, but Edwards certainly made the most of his opportunity.

Tip-ins

Nate Watson seemingly enjoys playing at home. He was terrific in DC as a freshman last season, and finished Saturday with 21 points on 9-11 shooting…

Makai Ashton-Langford had a career high eight assists and had a strong impact on the offensive end, even without making a field goal. His foul on Akinjo’s 3-point attempt with PC up four was a tough mistake, however…

Alpha Diallo played 46 minutes, scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He hoisted a long three with PC down three at the end of double overtime and plenty of time left on the shot clock, however. He had been 4-8 from deep prior to that miss…

Freshman Kris Monroe made the most of his six second half minutes, making a pair of jump shots, including a mid-range J after a pretty up-fake…

Fellow freshmen David Duke and Jimmy Nichols started once again, but both saw limited minutes (26 combined)…

Providence shot nearly 57% in the first half and finished the game with 38 points in the paint. They led this game for 31 minutes (vs. Georgetown’s 10)…

Georgetown’s freshmen guards were very productive. Akinjo and McClung combined for 36 points. Jessie Govan finished with 33 points and 14 boards. The unsung hero for the Hoyas was Jamorko Pickett, whose length caused Diallo issues…

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

 

6 Comments

  1. Wally Musto

    January 13, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    I thought the Friars deserved this one! Also, even though I always feel that a team has to win outright, I felt the Friars were NOT treated fairly by the refs. PC bodies flying everywhere and no call!

  2. Wally Musto

    January 13, 2019 at 9:59 pm

    Also, Coach Cooley did not have his best defensive players on the court during the last seconds of regular time and the 1st overtime. Neither White or Langford belonged on the floor!! He needed speed and length: Duke/Nichols!!! GO PATS!!!

  3. Anonymous

    January 13, 2019 at 11:46 pm

    Don’t blsme the officials, that’s a cop out. The Friars blew this game plain and simple. Twice they had the opportunity to foul prior to G’Town shooters making UNCONTESTED 3 pointers. Marquette used this strategy to perfection in their win over Seton Hall immediately after the Friars game. Cooley and the Friars need to step up their game soon. Only team in the Big East w/o a win in the conference. No gimmes this year.

  4. Derec Lamendola

    January 14, 2019 at 4:08 am

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    On Providence College Men’s Basketball Ed Cooley IS On Soon 11:30 Coschis Show What You Think Ed Colley iS Going Say About Makai Ashton Langfrod The Coschis Show Tonight And We Need To Do Something In The Conference I Hate This Conferntis And Bscusee I Relae Do And Eck This BIG East Conference Eck The Conference And Bscusee We Need To Do Something Over Hear And Get Redey I Think The Providence College Men’s Baaketball Needs Derec Lamendola In The Ferking Locker Room To Talk The Team And Bscusee And Derec Lamemdola Haven’t Been In The Providence College Men’s Baaketball Locker Room And Becuaee I Won’t Say Something To The All Team And Becusee I Relae Need To Get In Thery What You Think Becuaee I’m The Number 1 Friar Fan I Be Long In The Locker Room And The Providence College Men’s Basketball Locker Room And I Shrd What You Think About That

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  5. Anonymous

    January 14, 2019 at 10:33 pm

    Another fine pc graduate

  6. Derec Lamendola

    January 15, 2019 at 7:04 am

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