NEW: Watson's Free Throw in Final Second Lifts PC Over DePaul 66-65
GoLocalProv Sports Team
NEW: Watson's Free Throw in Final Second Lifts PC Over DePaul 66-65
Watson finished the game with six points and six rebounds off the bench for the Friars, while Luwane Pipkins and Maliek White each poured in 16 to lead Providence.
The win improves the Friars to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the Big East.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt also marks their first true road win of the season.
DePaul falls to 12-3 overall, and 0-2 in the Big East.
Watson Wins it
With 16 seconds left and the Friars up by three,65-62, PC forward Kalif Young fouled DePaul’s Jalen Coleman-Lands while he was shooting a three.
Coleman-Lands went to the line and knocked down three free throws to tie the game at 65.
On PC’s ensuing possession, forward Nate Watson was fouled while grabbing a rebound with .01 seconds left on the clock.
Watson, who is a 37% career free throw shooter, would go to the free-throw line to try and seal the win.
On the first attempt, Watson’s free throw hit the front end of the rim and bounced back to him.
However, Watson would get the second one to go give the Friars a 66-65 lead and the win.
PC Grabs Second Half Lead
Earlier in the half, the Friars jumped out to a 48-42 lead early in the second half on a three by Pipkins with 14:44 to play in the game.
DePaul would rally to tie the game at 50 with 11:06 to go on a three from Devin Gage.
However, from there, Providence would take control.
The Friars would go on a 10-0 run sparked by a Maliek White three and capped off by an Emmitt Holt three to take a 60-50 lead with 6:03 left to play.
DePaul would get back within four, 60-56, on a layup by Paul Reed with 4:10 to play in the game.
At that point, PC head coach Ed Cooley called a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Alpha Diallo found White on a backdoor pass to put PC up 62-56, before DePaul would rally to tie the game.
Back and Forth 1st Half
After trailing 11-5 early on in the game, the Friars built a 27-18 lead on a three from White with 6:32 to play in the half.
White carried the Friars in the first half, scoring nine points off the bench, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
From there, the Blue Demons would go on an 11-0 run to grab a 29-27 advantage on two free throws from Charlie Moore with just under three minutes to go.
Providence would take a 31-29 lead on a layup by Pipkin with two minutes to play in the half, before DePaul would tie the game on a layup from Coleman-Lands.
The Friars would trail 33-31 at the half.
Next Up
The Friars return to action on Tuesday, January 7 when they visit the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.