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CLOSE MISS: Friars fall short at ‘Nova, 75-73

CLOSE MISS: Friars fall short at ‘Nova, 75-73

By KEVIN McNAMARA

This frustrating Providence College basketball season took another bitter turn Friday night in Philadelphia.

On a night where the under-manned Friars had every right to fall by the wayside, they responded by throwing one 3-point shooting haymaker after another at Villanova. Kim English’s guys kept coming, kept scratching and clawing, kept pushing the Wildcats to the limit.

Eventually the game melted down to the final possessions, as they often do. With the game hanging in the balance, the Wildcats made just enough plays and the Friars failed to execute with all the marbles on the table. That was enough for the ‘Cats to escape with a 75-73 victory.

Villanova (12-7, 5-3) won a game it could not afford to lose. The Wildcats took the lead for good with 1:42 left when Tyler Perkins caught a fortunate air ball miss from Eric Dixon and put it back in. If Dixon’s shot hits the rim, the Friars’ rebound chances looked strong.

PC’s Bensley Joseph hit two free throws with 10 seconds left to make it 74-73 but when ‘Nova star Dixon made just one of two freebies with 8.6 on the clock the Friars had hope.

Taking advantage of that hope with any final-second out-of-bounds play execution proved elusive.

Jayden Pierre (1-11 FG’s) rushed the ball down the floor but bobbled it as he made a move around Dixon. PC retained the ball under its own basket and ultimately had two inbound play chances. The first was foiled when Pierre missed an open Jabri Abdur-Rahim and chose to make a dangerous pass to the far corner that Justyn Fernandez had no play on. The second, with 3.4 seconds on the clock, saw Pierre find Jabri Abdur-Rahim but he could not get a clean shot off over Jordan Longino.

“They guarded it well once. They guarded something else well the second time,” English said. “”They guarded it well. That’s basketball. Their defense was better than our offense at a really important moment in the game.”


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So a chance at what would’ve been an unlikely upset win went by the boards. The Friars showed up with starters Ryan Mela (ill) and Wesley Cardet (knee soreness) unavailable. That opened up opportunity – and offensive freedom – for other players. Fernandez, enjoying his first career start, shined with five 3-pointers and 17 points. Corey Floyd also shouldered a larger offensive role and he delivered with 18 points. The mercurial Joseph followed his rough outing (1-of-10 FG) at Creighton with a 20-point, 7 rebound effort. The Friars sank a season-best 14 threes after starting the game ice cold (0-of-9).

The Friars trailed by 23-14 in the first half but caught fire from downtown to close the opening half. Floyd, Joseph, Fernandez and Abdur-Rahim (10 points) all were knocking down bombs and the Friars sat on a 37-32 halftime lead.

PC had slowed Dixon by that point, limiting the nation’s leading scorer (24.8 ppg) to three field goals and 11 points. English, who called Dixon “the best player in the country,” and a future NBA wing, had his smaller players frustrate Dixon with their quickness. Floyd used his strength and quicks to do an especially strong job but the ‘Nova big man kept coming and helped his team retain the lead by opening the second half on a 10-0 run. Dixon would finish with with 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

“Our team lacks nothing,” English said, deflecting any talk about personnel losses. “We’ve just got to learn from it and keep getting better. I’m incredibly proud of our young men. Down who we’re down but just plays. Plays throughout the game. Plays in key moments where we can get better.”

Now saddled with a 9-10 record (3-4 Big East), the Friars feel they are better than that. They showed the depth that English has insisted the group owns in this game, especially with Fernandez emerging. But there begs an important question. Was Fernandez being blocked by a better option all season or has he just continued to improve? The Friars certainly can use an athletic wing player who can make 3-point shots.

“There’s not a kid I’ve ever coached harder,” said English. “Since George Mason I promised him that in recruiting. His parents looked me in the eye and that’s exactly what they wanted and he turned down some big-time schools to come play for us at George Mason. Through his time being out of the rotation he’s been exemplary. There was not a doubt in anyone’s mind that he’d have a good game today. He’s just getting better and better.”

So when the Friars return to action on Jan. 25, do we even know what the rotation will look like? Mela and Cardet should be ready to go so does that mean Fernandez returns to token minutes, and shots? How are Floyd and Abdur-Rahim mixed into the wing lineup and don’t forget Rich Barron who is progressing through concussion protocol.

It’s a conundrum for the coach. Too many solid players, many inconsistent. Not enough dependable stars. Up and down, in and out. Players progressing, especially younger ones, but the lineup mixing and matching hasn’t been easy for anyone.

Oh, by the way that next game on Jan. 25? Ed Cooley and Georgetown come to the AMP. See you there.

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