#20 Providence Holds on for 75-72 Win Over Georgetown
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
#20 Providence Holds on for 75-72 Win Over Georgetown
"I thought we came out with a sense of purpose, especially in the first half and for whatever reason in the second half we just did not have that same pop or same urgency. Credit Georgetown, they did a good job, I think we are really fortunate to have won the game, it's good to win at home," said PC Head Coach Ed Cooley after the game.
Holding on
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGeorgetown's Trey Morning buried a three with 1:21 to play in the game, to bring the Hoyas within one point, 71-70,
On PC's next possession, Ben Bentil missed a jumper but it was Rodney Bullock grabbing the offensive rebound and getting fouled. Bullock went to the free throw line and hit both shots to give PC a three point lead.
After Georgetown knocked down two free throws, Bentil gave the Friars their winning margin by knocking down two free throws.
Providence led by 20 at the half, 49-29, but were outscored 43-26 in the second.
The Leaders
The Friars were led by Rodney Bullock who posted 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field, including 4 of 6 from three-point land.
Kris Dunn followed up with 20 points and Bentil added 16 for the Friars.
Next up
The Friars return to action on Wednesday, February 17 when they visit Xavier. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
5 Takeaways From PC's 75-72 Win Over Georgetown
Ben Bentil
Ben Bentil is still playing on a sore ankle and poured in 16 points on 3 of 11 shooting from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line.
Bentil also grabbed 9 rebounds in the game.
"He is playing at a really really high level, the highest there is in the country," Ed Cooley said after the game.
Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn finished the game with 20 points on 5 of 11 shooting from the field and 10 fo 16 from the free throw line.
Dunn also grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, recorded 2 steals and only turned the ball over twice. Dunn also helped hold Smith-Rivera to just 3 points on 1 of 8 shooting from the field.
"Kris is a monster defensively, as great as he is on the ball screen and making plays, defensively he just has the natural tools. You know that of a free safety, a cornerback, he's physical, he's fearless and that's the good and the bad. I mean I think that's going to be his calling card, I think he is an NBA all-star defensively, that's just my opinion," said Cooley.
A Home Win
Much of the talk about PC during the conference season is the inability to win at home. Prior to this game, PC was 1-4 in their last five home games. Despite the ending to this game being ugly, the Friars got a home win.
On winning at home, Cooley said "It is a sense of relief to win at home because you can't ask for a better college atmosphere then what these fans have given us, it's been unbelievable. It's been actually a lot of fun, I walk out of that tunnel and pinch myself because I remember the days where they weren't here, I remember the days of trying to encourage people to come and support the team. The crowd helps you win, say what you want, but the crowd helps you win."
Rodney Bullock
Rodney Bullock led the Friars with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field, including 4 of 6 from three-point land and 5 of 7 from the free throw line. Of his 23 points, 18 of them came in the first half.
"It's crazy, I said 'Rodney your going to be great today' and he bought into it. We told him that at the beginning of the game and he believed it, he was big time today," said PC Head Coach Ed Cooley after the game.
This was the first time that Bullock has reached 20 points since December 31 on the road against Butler when he had 25.
Bullock also grabbed 10 rebounds in the game.
Near Collapse
The Friars led by as much as 26 in the first half before taking a 20 point lead into the locker room at the half.
In the second, Georgetown outscored the Friars 43-36 and got as close as 1 point, 71-70, with a minute left to play.
After a Ben Bentil missed a jumper, Rodney Bullock came up with an offensive rebound, got fouled and drained both of his free throws to help PC secure the win.
The Friars only made 5 field goals in the second half, their last one coming with 7:51 to play.
"They had back to back threes really late and I thought those were back breakers and then there was a breakdown in our defense," Cooley said about the near collapse.
