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Men's Basketball Knocks Off Bucknell, 76-65, In Second Day Of World Vision Invitational
Nov. 14, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team (2-0) defeated Bucknell University (0-2) by a score of 76-65 on Saturday, November 14 in the second day of the World Vision Invitational at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) led the Friars with 17 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 mark from the free throw line to help PC clinch the win in the game's final minutes. "We have to be able to improve from close games and hopefully we are improving every game," Providence Head Coach Keno Davis said. "I thought our intensity was pretty good tonight." The Bison jumped out to an 8-4 lead and moved ahead 13-6 on a 3-pointer by Bryan Cohen at the 14:45 mark of the first half. A 3-pointer by junior guard/forward Kyle Wright (Hartford, Conn.) cut the Bison lead to 17-14 and another three by junior guard forward Marshon Brooks knotted the score at 17 with 9:37 to play in the half. Bucknell responded with an 11-2 run to take a 26-19 lead at the 6:15 mark, but the Friars quickly put together a 7-2 spurt of their own to pull within two at 28-26. A fadeaway jumper by freshman guard Vincent Council (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied the score at 32, but the Bison scored before the half to take a 36-34 lead into intermission. The Bison effectively dictated tempo and played solid defense in the opening half, limiting the Friars to 34 points on 37.8 percent (14-37) shooting. Brooks paced the Friars with 13 points in the stanza. Providence took the lead for the first time since the 18:20 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by Curry in the opening minute of the second. After the Bison led by as many as four, 43-39, but a pair of 3-pointers by freshman guard Duke Mondy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) propelled the Friars to a 48-45 lead with 13:47 to go in the game. After the Bison tied the score at 53, a 3-pointer by senior Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) moved the Friars back ahead and a long jumper by Brooks extended the lead to six at 63-57 with 4:01 left in the contest. A 3-pointer by Curry pushed Providence ahead by nine at 70-61 with 1:28 left and effectively sealed the win for the Friars. Providence excelled on the defensive end of the floor in the second half, limiting Bucknell to 35.3 percent (12-34) shooting, including a 20 percent (2-10) effort behind the arc, after allowing the Bison to shoot at 46.2 percent (12-26) in the opening half. The Friars dominated the Bison on the boards, holding a 46-31 advantage. Of the team's 46 rebounds, 24 came on the offensive end of the floor, leading to a 19-6 edge in second-chance points for the Friars. Brooks added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, while McKenzie notched 10 points and eight rebounds and Council recorded 10 points, four rebounds and four assists for PC. The Friars are back in action on Sunday, November 15 with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against Mercer in the final day of the World Vision Invitational. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting Friars.com or by calling (401)-865-GOPC.
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