March 12, 2003

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By JIM O'CONNELL
AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK - One of the Big East tournament losing streaks had to end, and Providence stopped its in style.

Ryan Gomes had 26 points and 15 rebounds as the Friars snapped a five-game losing streak in the Big East tournament with a 73-50 victory over West Virginia on Wednesday.

"I told the guys we had to get over the hump, especially since we had never won," said Providence coach Tim Welsh, who was 0-4 in the tournament. "But these guys are playing confidently and with a little swagger."

That will get tested Thursday when the Friars (16-12) play No. 5 Pittsburgh (23-4) in the quarterfinals, and suddenly Providence is a team that has to be considered for a possible at-large berth to the NCAA tournament.

"We came here understanding that if we made a good showing, we'd be in the mix," Welsh said. "Obviously we still have work to do, and the only way to do it is to keep winning. With some of the good wins we've had over the last couple of weeks, we've put ourselves in a position to continue, and now we had a big, big obstacle - not only one of the best teams in our league but one of the best teams in the country."

Providence, which came into the tournament having won five of its last six, including victories over Villanova, Connecticut and Seton Hall, had a 20-point lead in the first half and was up 44-27 at the break.

West Virginia (14-15) never got closer than 15 points in the second half, losing its sixth straight Big East tournament game, and for the eighth time in 10 games overall.

Gomes, who leads the Friars in scoring and rebounding with averages of 18.4 and 9.4, dominated the first half, getting 18 points and seven rebounds.

"I just worked the baseline against their 1-3-1 zone, and I was able to get my shot off over a smaller guy on the baseline," said Gomes, who was 7-for-12 from the field in the first half and 11-for-18 overall.

I told the guys we had to get over the hump, especially since we had never won. But these guys are playing confidently and with a little swagger." Head coach Tim Welsh

The Friars shot 48 percent in the first half, outrebounded the Mountaineers 22-12 and forced eight turnovers.

"We got out early because of our defense, and that got us some easy shots," Welsh said. "It seemed every time the ball went through Ryan's hands in the first half something good happened."

Rob Sanders had 17 points for the Friars, who last won a Big East tournament game in 1998, a first-round win over Notre Dame.

Chaz Briggs had 12 points and Drew Schifino added 11 for the Mountaineers, who won't be eligible for postseason play with the sub-.500 record.

"Providence is playing well enough that I'd put them with the best in our league," said West Virginia coach John Beilein, who took over a program that was 8-20 last season. "I congratulate my guys who 11 months ago were in a bit of disarray and have made a major step to get a whole lot better and prepare to get better in the Big East in the future.