PC Has Big Win Over St. John’s — Sweep Red Storm with 78-59 Victory
Thursday, February 21, 2019
It is the game Friars fans have been waiting for all year. Big scoring, great defense and great 3-point shooting by the Friars.
The Friars shot over 43 percent from the field and over 41 percent from behind the 3-point line.
PC defeated the St. John's Red Storm, 78-59 Wednesday night at the Dunk.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt was a game where Coach Ed Cooley’s team pulled all aspects of the game together and frustrated St. John’s great, and head coach, Chris Mullin.
PC is now 15-12, 5-9 in the Big East) while St. John drops to 19-8, 7-7.
The Friars led by eight points at the half but blew the Red Storm out in the second half and led by as much as 28 in the second half. Providence held St. John's to their second-lowest points total of the season, their previous low was 56 against Providence on Feb. 19.
Four players scored in double figures for the Friars. Nate Watson tied his career-high with 21 points, bringing down nine rebounds. Watson has been a dominant player in the Big East in the past few games.
Alpha Diallo recorded his Big East-leading eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Maliek White and Isaiah Jackson scored 11 apiece off the bench, combining for five of the teams seven three-point baskets.
St. John's ranks third in the Big East in scoring, averaging 79.3 per contest, but were held scoreless for the first 6:39 and scored just 26 in the first half. Providence led 9-0 at the 14:25 mark, holding the Red Storm to 0-6 from the field and 0-3 from three-point territory.
St. John's chipped away once they saw one fall through, going on a seven-point run to cut the deficit to 9-7 (11:18). Isaiah Jackson (Gainesville, Fla.) provided offense off the bench, hitting a triple from the top of the key to stop the run. He connected for seven points in the first half and grabbed four rebounds.
Watson controlled the paint on both sides of the floor in the absence of Kalif Young (Vaughan, Ontario), who was out with an injury. Watson swatted Sedee Keita's dunk attempt during St. John's early run, followed by scoring five-straight for the Friars to build a 20-11 advantage. Watson finished the half with a team-high 12 points and brought down seven rebounds.
Reeves gave Providence their largest lead of the night at the time (13), after connecting on a three from the right wing in the Friars' first possession of the half. Watson added his fifth basket of the night to extend the Friar lead to 39-26. Providence added nine-straight points off free throws to enjoy a 48-33 (15:21) cushion.