NEW: Offensive Struggles Plague PC in 83-51 Loss to Florida
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Providence College Friars men’s basketball team fell to the University of Florida Gators 83-51 on Tuesday night at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.
In the game, Providence was plagued by their inability to convert on offensive opportunities and free throw shooting.
The loss drops the Friars to 6-6 on the season, while Florida improves to 7-3 overall.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPC's 6-6 record comes despite playing the 267th most challenging non-conference schedule in the country, according to KenPom.
PC's Offensive Struggles
As a team, PC shot just 26% from the field and made just one three on 16 attempts, which averages out to 6.3%.
AJ Reeves was 0-for-5 from three, while Luwane Pipkins made one three on just two attempts.
Providence converted just 20 of 34 free throws in the game, compared to Florida who knocked down 17 of 24 attempts.
The Friars were led in the game by Alpha Diallo, who poured in 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double.
However, Diallo’s points came off 5-of-16 shooting from the field and 10-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Nate Watson added 18 points on 5-of-10 from the field and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Diallo and Watson were the only two Friars to reach double-figures.
No other player was close.
Florida Pulls Away Early
Diallo converted two free throws to cut Florida’s lead to 12-10 with just over 12 minutes left to play in the half.
From there, the Gators went on a 15-2 run capped off by a Ques Glover three and two free throws from Keyontae Johnson to make the score 27-12 with 7:34 left in the frame.
Providence would get back within ten, 27-17, on a Diallo dunk with 6:51 to play, before the Gators would push their lead to 34-18 on a Glover layup with 4:16 to play.
Florida would take a 37-22 lead into the locker room.
In the first half, the Friars made just five field goals totaling ten points. PC scored 12 points from the free-throw line.
The 22 first-half points are a season-low for the Friars.
Things did not get better for Providence in the second half.
A layup by Diallo cut the Gators lead to 16 points, 40-24, in the opening minute of the frame, but that is as close as PC would get.
Florida would lead by as much as 30 points, 79-49, in the half.
Providence would use a full court press, which generated extra opportunities in the half, but they were unable to convert.
When Providence did convert, the Gators would answer with a basket of their own on the other end.
Florida would cruise to the win.
Next Up
PC returns to action on Saturday, December 21 when they host the University of Texas at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Game time is set for 2 p.m.
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