Providence basketball played a superb first half, but fell to national champs. Here’s how.

[ad_1]

STORRS, Conn. — More than one superb half of basketball was required to knock out the team that has won the men’s national championship two times in a row.

Providence was terrific through 20 minutes Sunday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion. The Friars simply couldn’t come up with a finishing touch against the current power in the Big East and beyond.

The Huskies reached a different level in terms of offensive execution out of the break, and Providence was unable keep pace. No. 11 UConn rallied to build a double-digit lead and held on for an 87-84 victory in front of a sellout crowd, a comeback that spoiled what would have been a first taste of success here for the Friars in more than two decades.

More: It wasn’t a Happy New Year’s Eve for Providence basketball. What happened vs. Marquette.

UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. is defended by Providence’s Oswin Erhunmwunse during the second half Sunday.

Aidan Mahaney’s 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:58 to play was effectively the dagger. The Huskies built their largest lead at 77-65 and connected on enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Friars in the rearview mirror and win their eighth straight. Providence slipped below .500 overall this late in a season for the first time since 2020-21 and dropped as many as three of its first four league games for the first time since 2018-19.

“We disrupted them in the first half,” Providence coach Kim English said. “They made some great adjustments. For the third time this season, we relinquished a pretty good lead.”

More: Rhode Island — the state and the school — hold a special place in Dan Hurley’s heart.

Jayden Pierre of the Providence Friars reacts after a defensive play against the Connecticut Huskies in Storrs, Conn., on Sunday.

The Friars ultimately lost their advantage for good during a field goal drought that lasted 7:09. Providence was blanked between Jayden Pierre’s open 3-pointer off the right wing and a spin to the glass by Wesley Cardet Jr. with 5:09 left. It was…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/providence-basketball-played-suburb-first-232256043.html

Author : The Providence Journal

Publish date : 2025-01-05 23:22:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.