Nov. 15, 2009

Final Stats

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team (3-0) edged Mercer College (2-1) by a score of 79-77 on Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center to win the World Vision Invitational. Junior guard/forward Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.) paced the Friars with 26 points and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Sophomore forward Jamine Peterson recorded a career-high 22 rebounds, the most by a Providence player since Michael Smith grabbed 26 boards on Jan. 25, 1994 in a 96-82 win for PC against Syracuse. With the win, Providence moves to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 2005-06.

The Friars took an early 5-0 lead thanks to a 3-pointer by Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.). Another deep three by Brooks moved the Friars ahead 11-5 but Mercer rallied back to take a 12-11 lead at the 15:01 mark of the first half. A fast-break lay-in by senior guard Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) pushed the Friars back ahead 20-16 and a lay-in by Peterson off a good feed from freshman Duke Mondy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) helped ignite a 18-2 run by PC that gave the Friars a 16-point lead at 40-24 with 4:18 to play in the half. The Friars took a 47-32 lead into intermission.

In addition to the 18-2 run, Providence was bolstered in the first half by the spectacular offensive play of Brooks. The 6-5 junior posted 22 points on 8-11 shooting, including a 4-of-6 mark from beyond the arc. PC shot 47.2 percent (17-36) as a team for the half and made seven assists on 17 field goals.

The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half before a 3-pointer by Mercer guard E.J. Kusnyer moved the Bears within 14 at 57-43 at the 15:42 mark. A nice look from Brooks led to a dunk by freshman forward/center Bilal Dixon (Jersey City, N.J.) and a 62-46 advantage for PC and a long 3-pointer by senior guard Brian McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) moved the Friars ahead by 17 at 73-56 with 10:15 to go in the game.

With 9:30 to play, Mercer began a ferocious comeback, as senior guard Jeff Smith nailed a 3-pointer, fueling a 14-0 run by the Bears over the next 6:03 to pull within three at 73-70. The Friars responded with a huge offensive rebound and lay-in by junior forward Russ Permenter to give PC a six-point edge at 76-70. Trailing by six with 2:02 to go, Smith hit another 3-pointer for Mercer to make it a one-possession game at 78-75 and two free throws by Florence moved the Bears within one at 78-77 with 1:10 left. However, Mercer could not score on its final three possessions of the game and the Friars held on for the thrilling 79-77 win.

The Friars overcame a 1-for-17 performance from 3-point territory in the second half and a 30.2 percent mark (13-43) overall. Despite the second half shooting woes, the Friars held a 55-to-48 advantage in rebounds and made 13 assists to the Bears' nine. Curry added 16 points and four rebounds for PC.

Providence was a perfect 3-0 in the World Vision Invitational and had three players named to the All-Tournament Team. Curry and Peterson each earned All-Tournament honors and Brooks was named the 2009 World Vision Invitational MVP. Bryan Cohen of Bucknell also was named to the all-tournament team.

The Friars now hit the road for the first of four nonconference away contests. On Friday, Nov. 20, PC will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for an 8:00 p.m. game against SEC opponent Alabama.