Friars Shock ’Nova, 76-71

Rodney Bullock slams down two of his 14 points in
the Friars’ 76-71 upset over the Wildcats.

By Bob Murphy

PROVIDENCE—OK, admit it… No one saw this one coming.

Exactly one game after an absolutely anemic performance against lowly DePaul at home, the Providence College Friars came roaring back with a vengeance on Wednesday night and shocked the nation’s No. 2/3-ranked team, Villanova, 76-71, before a sellout crowd of 12,887 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Friars, who scored 49 points in the second half, were led by Kyron Cartwright (17 points, five assists and three steals), Alpha Diallo (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Rodney Bullock (14 points, 6 rebounds). Jalen Lindsey (13) and Isaiah Jackson (11) also scored in double digits for Providence, which improved to 17-9, 8-5 in The Big East.

Mikal Bridges (19 points, 7 boards) and Jalen Brunson (14 points, 5 assists) led the Wildcats, who fell to No. 6 in the national rankings and are now 23-3 on the season, 10-3 in the conference. Both fouled out late in the game and were not available during a late ’Nova charge in the final minute of play.

Villanova pulled within three after Collin Gillespie scored five straight points shaving the Friars lead at 72-69 with 29 seconds left in the game. Cartwright split two trips to the foul line to push Providence’s lead back up to five, but a put-back by Paschall once again made it a one-possession game with 14.4 ticks remaining. Diallo, however, stepped up big, connecting on two at the stripe to push the lead back up to five and seal the Friars’ win over the Wildcats.

With the win, the Friars are now 2-0 vs. Top-5 teams at The Dunk this season. The other Top-5 conquest came in an 81-72 victory over then-No. 5 Xavier on Jan. 6. This was the first time Providence has beaten a team ranked as high as No. 3 since 2009 when the Friars topped No. 1 Pittsburgh.

Providence is now 3-1 in its last four games, and heads to Indianapolis for a key matchup with 17-10/7-7 Butler on Saturday. The Friars topped the Bulldogs, 70-60, at The Dunk in the previous meeting between the teams last month. Tip-off is at noon ET and the game will be televised nationally on FOX. A rematch with Xavier also remains on the schedule.

—with staff reports