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Men's Basketball Opens Season With 96-53 Victory Over Bryant In World Vision Invitational
Nov. 13, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2009-10 season with a 96-53 victory over Bryant University (0-1) on Friday, November 13 in the first day of the World Vision Invitational at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon (Jersey City, N.J.) posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Friars. With the win, Providence improves to 72-11 all-time in season openers and 75-8 in home debuts. The 43-point victory for the Friars marked the team's largest margin of victory since PC defeated Morgan State by 44 points in a 91-47 win on December 27, 2001. "I was really pleased with our team's intensity from the start and through the entire game," Providence Head Coach Keno Davis said. "Our ability to shoot the 3-point shot will allow us to win some big games." Providence opened the game on a 15-2 run behind two deep 3-pointers by senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.). A dazzling up and under by Curry extended the PC lead to 24-10, fueling an impressive 19-0 run by the Friars that gave the team a 39-10 advantage at the 6:25 mark of the first half. A fall-away 3-pointer by freshman Duke Mondy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) with under a minute to play in the stanza gave the Friars a 50-18 halftime lead. The Friars' pressure defense was effective in the first half as the team made nine steals and forced 16 Bryant turnovers, leading to a 23-0 advantage in points off turnovers for PC. Bryant's 18 first-half points marked the fewest in a half by a Friar opponent since Rutgers posted only 16 second-half points against PC on January 9, 2008. Curry and sophomore forward Jamine Peterson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Friars with 10 points each in the first half. A fast-break lay-in by junior guard/forward Marshon Brooks built the Friar lead to 42 at 66-24 five minutes into the second half. A slick no-look pass from freshman guard Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led to a dunk by Dixon and moved the Friar lead to 45 at 74-29 with 12:28 to go in the game. With less than four minutes to play, a steal and fast-break lay-in by freshman guard Johnnie Lacy (Milwaukee, Wis.) pushed the Providence lead above 50 at 92-41, the team's largest advantage of the game. The Friars shot 49.3 percent (36-73) from the field for the game, including a 55.2 percent (16-29) mark in the second half. PC held a 52-to-29 advantage in rebounds and dished out 19 assists. Peterson posted a game-high 18 points, while Curry added 12 points. Senior guard Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 11 points and Brooks posted 10, as five Friars posted double-figure scoring totals for the first time since the team's 81-73 victory over No. 1 Pittsburgh on February 24, 2009. The Friars are back in action on Saturday, November 14 with a 6:30 p.m. matchup against Bucknell in day two of the World Vision Invitational. PC will finish up the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. contest against Mercer on Sunday, November 15. Tickets for both games can be purchased by visiting Friars.com or by calling (401)-865-GOPC.
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