Shorthanded PC Edges St. John's 63-58 to Move to 4-1 in Big East
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
Shorthanded PC Edges St. John's 63-58 to Move to 4-1 in Big East
Reeves missed the game with a head injury that he suffered against Butler, while Holt was out with an ankle injury.
"Typical Big East game. Most of the games in our league are coming down to the last two minutes and tonight was another one. Alpha was important for us. We were short-handed so we needed this," said PC head coach Ed Cooley after the game.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFreshman Greg Gantt started in place of Holt.
PC was led by Alpha Diallo, who poured in 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. He was the only Friar to reach double-figures.
The win improves PC to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in the Big East.
The win was important for PC as they now go on the road for two games, at #25 Creighton on Saturday and at #18 Seton Hall next Wednesday.
PC then returns home to host #14 Villanova next Saturday, January 25.
St. John’s falls to 12-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big East.
PC Holds Off St. John’s
Leading 55-48 with 6:03 left in the game after a layup by Luwane Pipkins, PC saw their lead cut to three, 55-52, on a layup by LJ Figueroa with 4:56 to play.
The Friars would then get a dunk by Kalif Young and one free throw by David Duke to take a 58-52 lead with 3:09 to play.
St. John’s would get within two, 58-56, with just over a minute to play in the game.
On PC’s ensuing possession Luwane Pipkins knocked down a jumper to give the Friars a 60-56 lead.
St. John’s would answer right back with a corner jump shot by Marcellus Earlington to cut the Friars lead back to two, 60-58, with 28 seconds left.
Providence would then have to make free throws.
Davi Duke would be sent to the line and knock down one of two shots to give the Friars a 61-58 lead with 25 seconds left.
On St. John’s final possession, Mustapha Heron would throw up a contest corner jump shot that fell short.
Pipkins would go to the free-throw line with seven seconds left and convert both shots, sealing PC’s 63-58 win.
PC Grabs Halftime Lead
With the game tied at 20 with 5:30 to play in the first half, Diallo knocked down a three to give the Friars a 23-20 lead.
Less than a minute later, Gantt converted a layup and-1 to push PC’s lead to 26-21 with 4:59 to play.
St. John’s would cut PC’s lead to three, 26-23, on a layup by Rasheem Dunn, before the Friars would answer with a layup by Gantt and a three by Maliek White to take a 31-23 lead.
Providence would go into the locker room leading 31-26.
The Friars had the lead despite shooting just 34% from the field in the first half.
Next Up
PC returns to action on Saturday, January 18 when they visit #25 Creighton.
Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.