Providence beat South Dakota State 66-57 to advance to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2016. (Photo Courtesy: Boston Globe, Ralph B. Russo).
BUFFALO- The Providence Friars defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 66-57 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on Thursday afternoon.
The Friars were up eight at halftime and led by as many as 14 points with 16 minutes remaining in regulation.
It was a three-point Providence lead in the final minute as the Jackrabbits went on an 8-0 run which made the Friars sweat this one out to the end. Jared Bynum put up a three pointer that was missed, but he was fouled on the release by the Jackrabbits’ Douglas Wilson. Bynum went to the charity stripe and put the Friars up by six by knocking down all three free throws.
Al Durham led the way for Providence with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Bynum also finished the game with 12 points and Noah Horchler finished with 13 points for the Friars.
This turned out to be another typical Providence Friars’ game as they wound up winning yet again by single digits. While some people considered Providence to be on upset alert for this game, Providence head coach Ed Cooley continues to believe in his team, “I’m not the sexiest guy in the world when it comes to style. Our style is winning,” Cooley mentioned after the game.
While a lot of people consider Providence to be lucky this season in winning so many close games, Cooley has a message to the public, “We want to be in a close game if we can, it beats the alternative.”
The Friars are the first team to hold the Jackrabbits to under 60 points in their last 43 games. South Dakota State averaged 86.7 points per game coming into today. This was also South Dakota State’s first loss in over three months.
“I thought our players were determined, I thought our players were focused,” Cooley said. Our players feel they’re a good team as well,” Cooley explained when asked about what he thought about experts picking them to lose this game.
Providence will be making their first Round of 32 appearance since 2016 on Saturday when they will play the Richmond Spiders. It is also only the Friars second appearance in the second round since 1997.
Comentarios