PC Friars, Led By Duke’s 31, Win in OT Over Marquette
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Wednesday night’s win may be the game that changes the Friars' season.
The Providence College men's basketball team defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles, 72-63 in overtime at Alumni Hall.
The win was critical and moves the Friars advance to 9-7 overall and 5-5 in BIG EAST play.
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David Duke Show
David Duke scored a season-high 31 points in the game. Duke also added six rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a total of four made three-pointers.
Head Coach Ed Cooley said,"I thought David was a great leader for us today in all aspects of the game. I thought it was a really great BIG EAST game and I am so happy for the players on how we came together in a close game."
It was just another big game from Duke who is emerging as a PC great and making a statement as the top player in the Big East.
Duke's performance was all the more important at Nate Watson was held to 9 points. A.J. Reeves was the only other Friar besides Duke to hit double figures
GAME STORY
The game remained scoreless in the first 3:32 minutes of play. At the 16:28 mark, freshman Alyn Breed (Powder Springs, Ga.) made a jumper to put the Friars in the scoring column. Both teams struggled from the field to open the game. The score was tied, 2-2, at the first media timeout.
Marquette took an 8-6 lead into the 10:41 media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Duke scored his first basket to end a Friars scoring drought. On the ensuing offensive possession, Reeves converted from three-point territory. The Friars regained the lead, 11-9.
With 4:59 remaining in the first half, Reeves drew a foul on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws from the line. Entering the final media timeout of the half, the game was knotted at 18. The Friars closed the half with a 7-0 scoring run and by holding Marquette scoreless for the last 3:45 minutes.
The Friars led at halftime, 25-18. Providence shot 9-34 (26.5%) from the field, 2-13 (15.4%) from three, and 5-5 (100%) from the free throw line. Marquette shot 8-23 (34.8%) from the field, 0-7 (0%) from three, and 2-3 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
At 19:11, Jimmy Nichols, Jr. scored the first Friars points of the second half from the line. Shortly after, Duke and Marquette's Koby McEwen traded three-pointers. The Friars owned the lead, 29-25.
With 15:02 left, Watson converted a second-chance dunk for his first basket of the night. Ahead of the next timeout, the Golden Eagles took the lead with a basket from Koby McEwen. The score was 36-35, with Marquette in the midst of a 10-2 scoring run. The Friars had not scored in over three minutes.
At 8:49, Greg Elliott drained a three-pointer for the Golden Eagles. Duke matched it on the next possession with a three of his own. The Friars held a slim four-point advantage, 47-43, at the 7:54 media timeout.
With 4:57 remaining in regulation, Marquette completed an 11-2 run and forced a Providence timeout. The Golden Eagles had made six of their last seven attempts from the field. At the 3:41 mark, Reeves buried a three-pointer to level the game at 54 apiece.
With under three minutes to play in regulation, Watson converted an and-one to give Providence a three-point lead. At 2:22, Watson added an uncontested dunk, forcing a Marquette timeout. Theo John tied the game at 59 for the Golden Eagles with 0:52. Marquette came up short on the final shot of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
Duke knocked down a three-pointer at the 3:07 mark of overtime. Providence was ahead by three heading into the final two minutes. Following one made free throw by Duke, D.J. Carton dunked it for Marquette.
"I just try to stay even keel and know that as long as I put our team in a good position to win, that's all that matters," Duke said. "I just let the game come to me more today instead of forcing it."
With 0:35 to play, Breed made an open three-pointer from the right corner off an assist by Duke. The score gave the Friars a 68-63 lead, and the team closed the game with defensive stops.
Providence finished 22-63 (34.9%) from the field, 7-24 (29.2%) from three, and 21-28 (75.0%) from the free throw line. Marquette finished 25-53 (47.2%) from the field, 3-16 (18.8%) from three, and 10-15 (66.7%) from the free throw line. Koby McEwen led the way in scoring for the Golden Eagles with 13 points. D.J. Carton and Justin Lewis each scored 12 points.
Providence finished with two players in double-figures, in Duke and Reeves. The Friars also forced 22 turnovers and scored 16 points off turnovers. The Friars out-rebounded the Golden Eagles by five, with Watson leading the way on the boards with seven.
NEXT UP: Providence will head to Washington, DC to take on the Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday, Jan. 30. The game is set for tip-off at 1:00 p.m. on CBS.
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