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Men's Basketball
at Pitt (Exhibition)
2:00 p.m.
Providence College Athletics
Tuesday, December 27
Providence, R.I.
7:30 PM EST
Providence College
80
vs
65
San Diego State
Strong Defense Propels Friars Over San Diego State, 80-65
12/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2005
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team earned its third consecutive win and its sixth overall on the season with an 80-65 victory over San Diego State on Tuesday, December 27 at Providence, R.I. All four Friar freshman scored in double figures, including Jon Kale (Mattapan, Mass.) and Geoff McDermott (New Rochelle, N.Y.) who each registered a double-double. Kale finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds and McDermott registered 15 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
"What's great about this team is that someone different is stepping up each night, Jon did so tonight," Friar Head Coach Tim Welsh stated. "They like each other and are a good tight group which is making them come together better as a team."
The Friars seemed to be stuck in a holiday funk as the Aztecs opened the game with a 25-12 run over the first 10 minutes. However, the Friars began to claw back into the game and entered halftime with a 36-34 lead after freshman Sharaud Curry (Gainesville, Ga.) scored two of his 13 points with 13 seconds remaining in the first half to give PC the lead at the halfway mark.
In the second half, the Friars gradually built up a double-digit lead that grew to 17 points twice and put the team ahead for a comfortable victory down the stretch. Freshman Weyinmi Efejuku (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) was a key figure in the Friar victory as he scored 10 of his 14 points from the free throw line. Efejuku was constantly penetrating into the teeth of the Aztec defense and drawing fouls.
Senior Donnie McGrath (Katonah, N.Y.) was the one other Friar to score in double figures as he chipped in with 15 points. It marks the fifth time in 10 games this season that the team has had five players score in double figures in the same game.
San Diego State, which was playing without its leading scorer Marcus Slaughter (17.4 ppg) who was out with an injury, got a strong performance from junior guard Brandon Heath. Heath scored a game-high 22 points for the Aztecs.
The Friars will return to action on Tuesday, January 3 for their final non-conference game when they host Loyola at 7:30 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Players Mentioned
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