ESPN REPORT: Providence Men’s Basketball Falls in Quarterfinals Vs Hornets For The….
New York, New York — No. 8 Creighton’s hopes of winning its first BIG EAST Tournament championship were dashed on Thursday night in Madison Square Garden when the team fell to Providence 78-73 in the quarterfinals. The Bluejays trailed by 13 points at one point, but they caught up and ultimately came up just short.
Providence (21–12) will play the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal match between sixth-seeded Villanova and third-seeded Marquette on Friday night in the semifinal. Despite the setback, Creighton (23-9) will now have to wait to have its name called on Sunday’s NCAA Tournament selection show.
Following three lead changes between the teams in the first twelve minutes, Providence went on a 12-0 run, highlighted by eight points by BIG EAST Player of the Year Devin Carter, to take a 29-20 lead. The Bluejays responded quickly, as Ryan Kalkbrenner scored six straight baskets to trim the deficit to three points at 31-28. Despite an 11-for-11 performance from the free-throw line and a 24-20 advantage on the glass, CU would trail 33-30 at the half.
In the first 20 minutes, Baylor Scheierman led CU with 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Carter led PC with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
In the second half, freshman Rich Barron, who came into the game averaging 4.4 points per game, scored all of PC’s points in an 8-2 run that extended the margin to nine points. With 15:24 left in the game, Carter’s step-back three-pointer put PC ahead by double digits for the first time. Providence would lead by as much as 53–40. CU scored a run behind Kalkbrenner’s play. Seven of CU’s points came from the 7-foot-1 center during a 12-4 surge that pulled the Jays to within three points, 61-58. CU accepted the
Carter led PC with 11 points and seven rebounds in the first 20 minutes, while Baylor Scheierman led CU with 10 points and seven boards.
Averaging 4.4 points per game going into the game, rookie Rich Barron gave the Friars a great start in the second half by scoring all of PC’s points in an 8-2 run that extended the advantage to nine points. With 15:24 left, Carter’s step-back three-pointer put PC ahead by double figures for the first time. The score was now 46-36. The margin held by Providence would grow to 53–40.
CU scored a run thanks to a play by Kalkbrenner. During a 12-4 run that pulled the Jays within three points at 61-58, the 7-foot-1 center scored seven of CU’s points. CU claimed the
In the same conference tournament game, Baylor Scheierman scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Kalkbrenner added 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks. This made them the first two CU players to record double-doubles since Justin Carter and Kenny Lawson Jr. did it against Bradley on March 5, 2010. In addition to Alexander (19) and Ashworth (16), the Bluejays scored in double figures, shooting 37.9 percent from the floor and making 23 of 26 free throws (88.5 percent).
With 22 points and 11 rebounds, Carter led the Friars, while Oduro contributed 17 points and nine rebounds. Jayden Pierre added seven assists in addition to 15 points. The Friars had 17 assists to just five mistakes, a 41.4 percent field goal percentage, and a 40-39 rebounding advantage.
