PC Holds Off Marquette 77-75 to Snap 2 Game Losing Streak
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PC Holds Off Marquette 77-75 to Snap 2 Game Losing Streak
Kyron Cartwright coming up big when it counts. Show off those muscles Ky!! #pcbb #KyronCartwright #musclesonmusclesonmuscles pic.twitter.com/rj79tg7LaQ
— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 3, 2018
One game after being held scoreless, Cartwright finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe win is only the Friars second win all-time at Marquette, and evens the season series.
PC improves to 15-8 overall and 6-4 in the Big East. Marquette falls to 13-10 overall and 4-7 in conference.
Friars Hold On
After leading by as much as 11 points in the second half, Providence saw Marquette get as close as two, 75-73, with 21 seconds to play after Markus Howard knocked down two free throws.
On PC’s ensuing possession, Alpha Diallo went to the free throw line and knocked down two shots to increase PC’s lead to 77-73 with 20 seconds to go.
Marquette would get back within two, 77-75, after Howard got a jump shot to go down with six seconds left.
The Golden Eagles fouled Maliek White on the ensuing inbounds pass to send him to the line.
White missed both free throws giving the Golden Eagles a chance to tie or win the game with just seconds left.
However, Cartwright poked the ball away from Howard just before half court to seal the win for the Friars.
The Friars only shot 68% from the free throw line, but forced the Golden Eagles in 14 turnovers.
Friars Build 2nd Half Lead
Providence trailed 51-50 following two free throws from Howard with 12:23 left to play before going on an 11-2 run to go up 61-53 with 7:57 to play after Diallo got a tip-in to go.
After Marquette cut PC’s lead to 63-57, Providence would push their lead back up to 11 when Cartwright got a jump shot to go with 4:53 to play, putting the Friars in control up 68-57.
Diallo led the Friars with 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting from the field, while Isaiah Jackson added 13 points off the bench.
Next up
PC returns to action on Tuesday, February 6, when they host Georgetown at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.
Providence goes to Milwaukee and steals one at Marquette by two. The DRIVE for FIVE is very much in play for Ed Cooley. Five NCAA's in Five years. #pcbb
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 3, 2018
Providence College Basketball 2017-18 Projected Starting Lineup
Guard
Kyron Cartwright - Senior
Kyron Cartwright was ranked as the sixth-best guard in the country and the second-best guard in the Big East by CBS Sports.
He was also named to the preseason All-Big East second team at Big East media day.
"Kyron is the fastest player in the Big East, he can distribute the ball, he was 4th in the league in assists last season, so he can make things happen," said Hassett.
In 2016-17, Cartwright averaged 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in the regular season helping the Friars to a third-place finish in the conference.
He finished the season ranked fourth in the country and first in the Big East with 6.7 assists per game.
Coming into this season, Cartwright is tied with John Linehan with 450 career assists. He has a chance to climb as high as second all-time and pass Ernie DeGregorio who recorded 662 career assists.
Vincent Council is number one with 725 career assists.
Guard
Alpha Diallo - Sophomore
Alpha Diallo will look to build off a freshman season in which he started 16 games for the Friars.
He averaged 5.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes of action per game. At the end of the year, the team named him the Marvin Barnes Defensive Player of the Year.
Diallo started his freshman season coming off the bench and playing inconsistent minutes through the first eight games.
By PC's fifth Big East Conference game, he was in the starting lineup and would stay there.
Diallo finished the season reaching double figures in five of the Friars final 12 games, including 18 points against both Villanova and St. John's.
Guard
Jalen Lindsey - Senior
Jalen Lindsey has missed the entire preseason with a knee injury.
Lindsey returned to practice on Wednesday and will be a game-time decision for Friday, according to Cooley.
If Lindsey can't go, senior Isaiah Jackson will take his place in the starting lineup.
Last season with PC, Lindsey averaged 10.4 points, four rebounds and one steal in 31 minutes of action per game.
He also shot 46% from three.
Forward
Rodney Bullock - Senior
Rodney Bullock returns to the Friars this season after testing the NBA Draft waters last March, before pulling his name out.
Prior to the start of this season, Bullock was named second-team all-Big East.
"With Rodney Bullock, he has to be consistent. He has to come out and give it to you every night. With this team, there is no reason why he shouldn't average 17 points and get 8-10 rebounds per game. He has to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor," said Hassett.
In 2016-17, Bullock led Providence in scoring and rebounding with an average of 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
He also led PC with five double-doubles on the year and scored at least 20 points in nine games, including a career-high 36 points against New Hampshire.
In PC’s NCAA Tournament game against USC, Bullock poured in 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Center
Kalif Young - Sophomore
Forward Emmitt Holt remains out with abdominal issues and is not even on campus,
"The Holt injury is a major problem. He is the toughest player on the team, the best rebounder, and a post up guy that they don’t have. He is also good outside guy that can stretch the defense. Plus, you lose the experience," said Hassett.
Holt's absence means 6'9" sophomore Kalif Young will open the season at center.
"He has a tremendous opportunity now with Holt gone to get more minutes then he would have gotten. The reliance on him now is bigger. With Emmitt out there he didn’t have to play important minutes, now he has to play important minutes," said Hassett.
In his freshman season with the Friars, Young averaged 3.2 points, 3.2 rebounds 0.5 blocked shots in 13 minutes of action per game.
