PROVIDENCE – In a gritty basketball showdown between two Top 10 teams, it was No. 7 Xavier that absorbed the jubilation of a resume-building victory.
The No. 7 Musketeers pulled off their biggest road win of the season by downing No. 10 Providence in 75-68 Tuesday before a sold-out crowd at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Eight NBA scouts and a large media contingent watched the first match-up at the arena showcasing a Top 10 Providence team and a Top 10 opponent. The Musketeers (18-2, 6-2 Big East) proved unflappable against potential NBA player Kris Dunn and conference scoring leader Ben Bentil.
Even when Providence (17-4, 5-3) ended a 1-for-19 start from the perimeter – hitting four triples in short order – and even when key players James Farr and Trevon Bluiett fouled out, the Musketeers stuck to their principles and maintained a lead no matter how much it dwindled.
And boy, did it dwindle. An 11-1 run including six straight points inched PC within six, and the Friars pulled within three on a Dunn lay-up with 1:20 to go.
J.P. Macura responded with a clutch 3-pointer.
The Friars missed five straight perimeter shots before Junior Lomomba connected, but the team never bridged the gap in the last 14 seconds. Myles Davis sealed the outcome with two free throws with 12.5 seconds remaining.
Five Musketeers scored in double figures, led by Bluiett (15 points) and Jalen Reynolds (15 points, 11 rebounds) as the team downed a fourth Top 25 team this season.
The Friars entered the game ranked 21st in the NCAA's RPI, so Tuesday's victory also was highest in that stat for a Musketeers opponent in a road victory. Among all opponents Xavier has beaten thus far, Providence's RPI ranks second only to Dayton (11), and the rout of the Flyers came on a neutral court.
Xavier conjured the winning formula despite committing 12 first-half turnovers and surrendering nine points off them. Its 1-3-1 zone vexed the Friars, which went 1-for-11 from the perimeter and converted just two second-chance points while struggling mightily to connect.
Xavier capitalize during the Friars' shooting droughts and led by as many as 11 with four minute left in the half.
It was, for the first portion of the half at least, a game of runs.
Xavier started the game on a 7-0 tear before Providence roared back, scoring nine straight points. If Kyron Cartwright's no-look pass down court to Kris Dunn for a score didn't bring down the house, then Rodney Bullock's ensuing dunk did.
The run grew to 13-0 before Bluiett ended it with a jumper. Mishandled passes, missed shots and Providence rebounds doomed the Musketeers to playing from behind – but not too far, despite their struggles.
The Friars endured a 3-plus minute scoring drought, during which it coughed up the ball four times.
Farr quickly reminded Providence that he was indeed a force to be reckoned with. He amassed his own 6-0 run with a lay-up, a dunk and a 3-pointer.
Although Dunn answered with a 3-pointer and a Farr turnover led to a Bentil dunk and a Xavier timeout, the Musketeers found their bearings with the help of Remy Abell. The senior slogged through a five-game, 1-for-7 stretch from the perimeter before Providence but buried his first two attempts beyond the arc.
Farr decimated Providence's zone with back-to back jump shots and Reynolds capped XU's run at 9-0. The Musketeers, even with 11 turnovers, surged ahead by 11.
Xavier led 34-26 at halftime by shooting 46.9 percent and holding the Friars to 1-for-11 perimeter shooting and an overall 31.3 mark.
That formula didn't bode well for Providence in home losses to Marquette and Seton Hall. Those teams shot in the neighborhood of 50 percent while the Friars were held to 34 percent.
In the end, Xavier shot 50.8 percent to Providence's 31.4, and the Friars fell despite Bentil's 25 points. The Musketeers also overcame 20 turnovers and won the rebounding battle 41-39.
References
- ^ Last Slide (ux.usatoday.com)
- ^ Next Slide (ux.usatoday.com)
- ^ Box score (usat.ly)
