"We cheated death in this one today." How UConn pulled off a second-half comeback against Providence
Coming off a humbling loss to Marquette at home their last time out, it was fair to question how Providence would respond at Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.
The Friars certainly responded, but ultimately didn’t have enough in the end of their 87-84 loss to the winners of the past two NCAA championships.
This was a game Providence must feel like they could have taken. Despite being without Bryce Hopkins for the fourth straight game, they led 39-27 at halftime and played as clean a first half as they could have hoped for: 17-30 shooting from the field, getting to the rim at will, just two turnovers, a 17-11 edge on the glass, and advantages in second chance points (6-2), bench points (11-5), and points in the paint (28-16). For a team that had been consistently outplayed on the interior without Hopkins, the first half was a sight for sore eyes.
Seven Friars scored in the opening 20 minutes, with Jayden Pierre leading the way with 10, while Wesley Cardet (8) and freshman Ryan Mela (8/4/2) consistently beat defenders off the dribble and finished at the rim.
This was the Cardet Providence fans hoped to see this season, and the type of fearless half out of a freshman that opens eyes.
The second half was played far differently than the first, however. More specifically, it was called differently.
UConn was whistled for two fouls in the first half, as PC had six.
In the second, Providence committed five fouls in the first three minutes of the half and was called for 19 fouls overall (to Connecticut’s 14).
Still, the Friars took a 14-point lead early in the second after a Rich Barron layup. Then they survived Connecticut’s first haymaker, as the two teams traded blows in an outstanding offensive display five minutes into the half. If Connecticut flinched during this stretch PC could have blown their lead up to 15 or 16. If the Friars faltered UConn seemed ready to take over.
This was high level offensive basketball, with Pierre catching fire for PC:
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