Feb. 23, 2010

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team (12-15, 4-11 BIG EAST) was defeated by No. 4/4 Syracuse University (26-2, 13-2 BIG EAST) by a score of 99-85 on Saturday, Feb. 23 before a sell-out crowd of 12,410 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. After the Friars led by eight at 55-47, PC could not overcome the subsequent 26-2 run by Syracuse that helped the Orange claim the 99-85 victory.

Sophomore forward Jamine Peterson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and junior guard/forward Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.) paced the Friars with 23 points each. For Peterson, it marked his 14th game of the season with at least 20 points. Senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) and freshman guard Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 11 points and four assists for PC.

After the teams played to an early 6-6 draw, Syracuse scored 19 of the game's next 24 points to take a 24-11 lead at the 14:14 mark of the first half. A 3-pointer by senior guard Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) moved the Friars back within eight at 27-19 and a triple by Peterson got the Friars within three at 34-31. The sequence was part of an 18-4 run by Providence. A second chance lay-in by senior center Ray Hall (Denver, Colo.) cut the Orange lead to two at 35-33 and another 3-pointer by McKenzie gave the Friars their first lead at 36-35. McKenzie continued to shoot well in the half, converting his third 3-point attempt to move PC in front, 41-38, with 6:27 to play in the stanza. An electric alley-oop from Curry to Peterson extended the Friar lead to five at 45-40 and another dunk by Peterson from Curry gave PC a 47-40 advantage. The slammer capped another big run for the Friars, this time at 16-5. PC entered intermission ahead, 52-47.

Providence opened the game with one of its best offensive halves of the season, shooting 58.8 percent (20-34) from the field and making 10 of 19 3-point attempts (52.6 percent). Both marks tied a season high set in the first half against George Washington on December 9. Brooks led the Friars with 15 first-half points.

After the Friars moved ahead 55-47 on their first possession of the second half, Syracuse scored the next 14 points to take a 61-55 lead. A 3-pointer by the Orange's Andy Rautins moved Syracuse ahead 73-57 and extended the run to 26-2. Scoop Jardine nailed a 3-pointer at the 6:45 mark to keep Syracuse in front by 14 at 85-71. Another 3-pointer by Rautins gave the Orange their largest lead of the game at 96-77.

Syracuse shot 61.8 percent (21-34) in the second half and posted 30 points in the paint to the Friars' 16 in the stanza. Andy Rautins and Rick Jackson paced the Orange with 28 points apiece.

The Friars return to action on Saturday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. against the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. The game will be aired on ESPN360.com.