#21 PC Takes Down #15 Seton Hall 70-65, Friars Now 2-0 in Big East

Thursday, December 30, 2021

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Nate Watson PHOTO: PC

Providence College men's basketball team, the #21 ranked team in the country, defeated the #15/13 Seton Hall Pirates, 70-65, on Wednesday at the Dunk'.

The Friars improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in BIG EAST play. 

The game marked the first time two ranked teams have played at the Dunk' since the No. 11 Friars played No. 3 Villanova on February 6, 2016. 

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Graduate student Noah Horchler had his fifth double-double of the season, recording game-highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Nate Watson, a grad student, finished with 14 points and became the 18th player in program history to record 1,500 or more career points. Tonight's win marked the Friars' fifth win versus Quad 1 teams (5-0) and second consecutive win against ranked teams (2-0). 

The Friars led 36-27 at halftime. 

"We have a veteran group," Head Coach Ed Cooley said. "We demand excellence and hold them accountable. You can go into every game expecting to win when you have an older group. Give credit to our players and our staff for their preparation."

 

GAME STORY:

FIRST HALF:

- Horchler got the Friars into the scoring column first with a three-pointer from the top of the key. 
- The Friars led 5-4 at the first media timeout of the game. 
- At the 11:35 mark, Watson scored his first basket and broke the tie with a two-handed dunk. By the 10:11 timeout, the game was knotted at 14.
- Trailing, the Friars went on an 8-0 run, scoring on four consecutive possessions to regain the lead. Watson recorded two baskets in the paint and Horchler knocked down two three-pointers. The Friars held a 27-22 lead. 
- Horchler added his fourth three-pointer of the game at the 2:56 mark from the right corner. The Pirates used their second team timeout of the game. 
- On the ensuing possessions, Watson and Jared Bynum (Largo, Md.) scored in the paint to cap off the 15-0 scoring run. The Friars led by 12 points, 34-22.
- Horchler and Watson each reached double figures before the half for the Friars. 
- Providence shot 13-31 (41.9%) from the field, 4-10 (40.0%) from three, and 6-8 (75.0%) from the free throw line. 
- Seton Hall shot 11-32 (34.4%) from the field, 2-9 (22.2%) from three, and 3-6 (50.0%) from the free throw line. 

SECOND HALF:

- Horchler scored the first basket of the second half for the Friars. The Friars forced turnovers on their first two defensive possessions of the half.

- At the 13:16 mark, Seton Hall's Jamir Harris knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing. The basket ended a scoring drought of over three minutes. 

- The Pirates narrowed the gap to single digits with 11:43 to play. Horchler quickly responded with his fifth three-point basket of the night. 
- On the next possession, Bynum took the ball coast-to-coast for the layup. The Friars led 54-41.
- Each team had missed three of their last four attempts from the field entering the final six minutes of the game. 
- With 4:37 remaining, Bynum buried a contested jumper late in the shot clock to extend the Friars' lead to 11 points, 61-50. Seton Hall's Myles Cale responded with baskets on back-to-back trips to decrease the deficit to seven.
- A.J. Reeves buried his first three-pointer of the game at an opportune time. With 3:20 left to play, the Friars' lead was back to double digits at 64-54.
- The Pirates continued to produce offensively in the final stretch of the game, cutting the deficit down to only three points with 0:17 remaining and again at the 0:09 mark. 
- Al Durham connected on both free throws from the line on each occasion to seal the game.  

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Providence finished 25-62 (40.3%) from the field, 6-17 (35.3%) from three, and 14-18 (77.8%) from the free throw line. 
- Seton Hall finished 26-66 (39.4%) from the field, 4-19 (21.1%) from three, and 9-14 (64.3%) from the free throw line. 
- Five players finished in double-figures for the Friars, in Bynum (14), Durham (12), Horchler (17), Reeves (11), and Watson (14).
- Alexis Yetna led the way for the Pirates in points and rebounds, finishing with a double-double, 13 points and 11 rebounds. 
- Tonight marked the Friars' first game in 11 days. In their last game, the Friars notched a 57-53 win at UConn on Dec. 18. 
- The Friars are the only team in the nation with five Quad 1 wins.
Attendance – 12,069

 

NEXT GAME:

The Friars will take on the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday, January 1 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET.) on FOX. 
The Friars hold a 34-13 all-time record versus DePaul. Last season, the Friars posted a 2-1 mark against the Blue Demons. In their last matchup, the Blue Demons defeated the Friars, 70-62, on March 10, 2021, in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.

 

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