Dec. 23, 1999

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Donta Wade had a career-high 24 points to lead Providence past Arkansas 87-81 Thursday.

After trailing most of the game, Arkansas tied it at 72-72 with 3:16 left on Brandon Dean's 8-foot jumper. But Providence (5-5) made 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch, including 6-for-6 by Abdul Mills, to clinch the win.

Dean and T.J. Cleveland each had 20 points for Arkansas (6-4).

Karim Shabazz, a Florida State transfer playing his first game with Providence, scored 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Erron Maxey added 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Friars.

Providence led 51-40 at intermission, fueled by a 17-point first-half performance by Wade that included five 3-pointers. Wade was 6-for-8 from 3-point range on the night.

The Friars shot 55 percent from the floor to 38 percent for the Razorbacks. Providence went 20-for-31 from the free-throw line, while Arkansas was 7-for-7.