Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus DePaul on February 7, 2026 , Win , 90, to, 72
Men's Basketball
vs DePaul
Final
90
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72
Providence College Athletics
Photo by: Stew Milne
Men's Basketball National Invitation Tournament Game Notes vs. Arkansas
3/18/2019 4:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Friars will play Arkansas on Tuesday, March 19 at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Friars In The NIT: The Providence College men's basketball team will make its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) since 2013 (20th appearance overall) when the Friars play Arkansas on Tuesday, March 19 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence. The winner of the Providence/Arkansas game will face the winner of the No. 1 seed Indiana and No. 8 seed Saint Francis (Pa.), which is scheduled to be played on March 19 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN). The Friars, who finished the regular season in eighth place in the BIG EAST with a 7-11 record, have recorded an 18-15 record overall. Providence posted a 1-1 mark in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Friars defeated Butler (80-57) and were defeated by No. 25 Villanova (73-62) in the Quarterfinals at the BIG EAST Tournament in New York. Providence will be making its 20th appearance in the NIT. The Friars, who won the NIT in 1961 and 1963, have registered a 32-20 mark all-time in NIT games. The Friars' 32 NIT victories ranks as the fourth highest amongst all schools. Only St. John's (45 wins), Dayton (40 wins) and Minnesota (34 wins) have won more games in the NIT. In the Friars' most recent NIT game, Providence was defeated by Baylor (79-68) on March 27, 2013 in Waco, Texas in the NIT Quarterfinals.
All-Time NIT Appearances: The Friars, who captured NIT titles in 1961 and 1963, have a storied tradition in the NIT. This season, PC is making its 20th appearance in the NIT. Only three other colleges have been in more NITs.
NIT Appearances:
1) St. John's 30
2) Dayton 25
3) Bradley 21
4) Providence 20
Cooley And Friars Earn Seventh Consecutive Post-Season Bid: The Friars are playing in their seventh consecutive post-season tournament in 2019 in Ed Cooley's eighth year as a head coach of the Friars. It marks the first time the Friars reached the post season seven straight times since Dave Gavitt's Friars accomplished the feat from 1970-71 to 1977-78 (eight consecutive seasons). When Cooley was hired in 2011, the Friars had finished under .500 in six of the 10 previous seasons and had been to just one NCAA Tournament (2004) in that 10-year span. In 2019, the Friars are making their seventh consecutive post-season appearance, including their second NIT berth in those seven years. In Cooley's second season as the Friars' coach, he led the Friars to the 2013 NIT Quarterfinals. In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Cooley guided the team to the NCAA Tournament.
Friars All-Time Versus Arkansas: Tuesday's game will mark the fourth meeting all-time between Providence and Arkansas. The Friars have posted a 2-1 record versus the Razorbacks. The last time the two teams met, Providence earned a 67-51 victory on Nov. 16, 2007 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. This will be the first post-season meeting between Providence and Arkansas.
Friars Secure Seventh Consecutive Season At .500 Or Better: With the Friars' win at Butler on February 26, the team earned its 16th win of the season. The Friars now have 18 wins and they are assured of finishing above .500 for the seventh consecutive season. Seven consecutive seasons marks the fourth longest streak of consecutive .500 or better seasons in the 92-year history of Friar basketball. The other streaks are: 12 seasons (1956-67); 10 seasons (1969-78) and nine seasons (1929-37).
Friars Looking To Reach Sixth Consecutive 20-Win Season In 2019: The Friars entered 2018-19 season having posted five consecutive 20 win seasons. The team is two wins shy of earning its 20th win. The last time the Friars registered six consecutive 20-win seasons was 1972-73 to 1977-78. The Friar record for consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins is nine, which was established from 1958-59 to 1966-67.
Alpha Diallo Named Second Team All-BIG EAST: Junior guard Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) was named Second Team All-BIG EAST on March 10. Diallo is averaging 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds. His 8.0 rebounds is tied for tops in the BIG EAST in overall action. He also ranks ninth in scoring and he is tied for first in the league in double-doubles with nine. Diallo is the first Friar to earn All-BIG EAST honors since Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright were named to the Second Team in 2017.
Jackson Reaches 1,000 Career Points: Senior Isaiah Jackson (Gainesville, Fla.) became the 51st Friar all-time to score 1,000 points for his career. Jackson, who transferred to Providence after spending his freshman season at George Mason, has registered 768 points in three seasons as a Friar. He also recorded 270 points in his first season at George Mason. With 1,038 career points, Jackson ranks 48th all-time in scoring at Providence.
Ed Cooley To Coach USA Pan Am Games Team In August: A select team of men's basketball standouts from the BIG EAST Conference will represent the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games, it was announced jointly on December 18 by USA Basketball and the BIG EAST. This represents the first time a team from a single Division l conference will represent the U.S. in the sport of men's basketball in Pan American Games competition. The BIG EAST also announced that Providence College Head Coach Ed Cooley will serve as head coach for the Pan American Games team. He previously served on the coaching staffs for the 2014 USA Basketball junior national team that won the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the 2015 USA team that won the FIBA U19 World Championship in Greece. He has been a member of the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee since 2017. He was also a court coach for the 2013 USA U19 World Cup Team. In his eighth season at Providence, Cooley led the Friars to the 2014 BIG EAST Conference title and to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of the past five years. The player roster, additional coaching staff appointments and training camp details will be announced at a later date.
Ed Cooley Ranks Third On The PC All-Time Win List: With the Friars' win versus Butler on March 9, Ed Cooley recorded his 161st victory as the Friar Head Coach and moved into third place on the all-time win list for PC Head Coaches. The two all-time winningest Friar head coaches are: Joe Mullaney (319-164), and Dave Gavitt (209-84). Cooley has a 162-109 mark in eight seasons as the Friars head coach.
Friar Defense Improved: The Friar defense has improved steadily this season. Through the team's 18 BIG EAST Conference games, the Friars ranked third in points allowed (71.3 ppg). The team also ranked second in steals (8.0 spg) and second in turnover margin (+1.4). Opponents averaged 14.7 turnovers per game versus the Friars, the highest rate in the league.
Diallo One Of Five Players To Lead Team in Points, Rebounds And Assists: Friar junior Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) is one of five players from a power conference (BIG EAST, ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12) to lead their teams in points, rebounds and assists. Diallo is averaging 16.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 3.1 apg. The other four players are Ky Bowman of Boston College, Tres Tinkle of Oregon State, Jarrett Culver of Texas Tech and Ethan Happ of Wisconsin.
Reeves Returns After Missing Seven Weeks: Freshman guard A.J. Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) returned to the Friar lineup on January 27 after missing seven weeks (nine games) with a foot injury. The freshman guard registered 11 points in 11 minutes of action in his return versus DePaul on January 27. Reeves was 3-6 from behind the arc. Reeves, who has been named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times this season, is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 points per game. Reeves leads the Friars in three pointers made (45) and first in three-point field goal percentage (39.5percent). He scored a game-high 24 points when he was 9-13 from the field, including 6-8 from three-point territory in the Friars' win over Butler on March 9.
Friars All-Time Versus Top-25 Teams: The Friars have posted a 116-265 (.304) mark all-time versus top-25 teams, including a 0-5 mark this season. In the Friars' first game versus a ranked team this season, Providence was defeated by No. 18/18 Michigan, 66-47, on November 18 at the Hall of Fame Tip Off in Uncasville, Conn. In the Friars' second game versus a ranked team, Providence was defeated at No. 15/13 Marquette, 79-68, on January 20. In the team's third game versus a ranked squad, the Friars were defeated at No. 13/13 Villanova, 85-67, on February 13. In the team's fourth game versus a ranked squad, the Friars were defeated by 11/10 Marquette, 76-58, on February 23. In the team's most recent game versus a ranked team, the Friars were defeated by No. 25/25 Villanova, 73-62, on March 14.
Diallo Surpasses 1,000 Career Points: Junior Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) has recorded 1,143 career points in 98 games (11.7 ppg). He became 50th player in Friar history to score 1,000 or more career points. Diallo ranks 33rd all-time in scoring at Providence.
Diallo Registers His Ninth Double-Double Of The Season: Junior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Friars' overtime loss at Creighton on March 6. For Diallo it was his ninth double-double of the season and the 15th of his career. He leads the Friars in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (8.0 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg). He has recorded a team-best 10 games this season with 20 or more points. Diallo, who was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team last March. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season.
Diallo Ranks First In The BIG EAST In Rebounding: Junior forward Alpha Diallo (New York, N.Y.) ranks first in the BIG EAST in rebounding in overall play (8.0 rpg). He has recorded 10 or more rebounds in nine games this season, including a career-high 15 boards at St. John's on February 9.
Watson Ties His Career-High With 21 Points at Butler: Sophomore Nate Watson (Arlington, Va.) tied his career high in points with 21 at Butler on February 23. He was 8-10 from the field and grabbed five rebounds in the win. It was the fourth time this season he scored 21 points in a game. He ranks second on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.2 rpg). The sophomore center recorded his first career double-double when he scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds at Boston College on December 4. Watson earned BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors last season.
Youth Movement: Through 33 games this season, Head Coach Ed Cooley has relied on his freshman class to help pace the Friars. Freshman David Duke (Providence, R.I.) has started all 33 games this season. Freshman A.J. Reeves ranks third on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and he leads the team in three-point shooting (39.5 percent). Duke is fifth on the team in scoring (7.1 ppg). Freshman Jimmy Nichols (Conway, S.C.) is first on the team in blocks with 26.
Jackson Comes Off The Bench: Red-shirt senior Isaiah Jackson (Gainesville, Fla.) has come off the bench in 26 of the team's 33 games this season. He has scored in double figures in 16 of the team's 33 games and he ranks fourth on the squad in scoring (9.8 ppg). Jackson is third on the team in rebounding at 4.8 rebounds per game. He had a game-high 21 points and he also added eight rebounds and four assists in the Friars' overtime loss at Creighton on March 6. Jackson followed that up with his second consecutive strong effort when he registered 20 points and five rebounds in a win over Butler on March 9.
Friars 60-3 In Non-Conference Action At The Dunk Under Ed Cooley: The Friars have posted a 60-3 mark in eight seasons under Ed Cooley in non-conference home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Top-70 Student Athlete Greg Gantt Signs NLI To Attend PC In 2019-20: Friar coach Ed Cooley announced on November 16 that student-athlete Greg Gantt, Jr., (Fayetteville, N.C.) signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence College beginning in September 2019. Gantt is ranked in the top-70 in every major ranking. Gantt, a 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound forward attends Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville, N.C., where he is coached by Heath Vandevender. At Trinity Christian, he averaged 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 2018. He also played for the Team Felton AAU Team. On Team Felton, he was coached by Fred Cannon. During the summer, he was the leading scorer and rebounder for Team Felton on the Under Armour circuit. Gantt is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and 247sports.com. ESPN (No. 62), Rivals (No. 63) and 247sports (No. 66) all have Gantt ranked as a top-70 recruit.
Reeves Had A Memorable Opening Night: Freshman guard AJ Reeves (Roxbury, Mass.) had an impressive opening night for the Friars versus Siena on November 6 when he scored 29 points, while shooting 10-13 from the field, including 7-9 from three-point territory. Reeves established a Friar record for most points by a freshman in an opening night game. He also became the first Friar to have seven or more three pointers in a game since Bryce Cotton had seven at Boston College on December 22, 2012.
New Home Of Friar Basketball - Friar Ruane Friar Development Center: Thanks to a generous gift from former Providence College Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Ruane '71 & '13 Hon. and his wife, Elizabeth Ruane, Providence College began construction of the Ruane Friar Development Center in 2017, a new multi-purpose facility that will significantly enhance Friar athletics, student services, and College community life. The College began construction of Phase I of the project includes a new two-story structure attached to Alumni Hall. In September, the doors opened to the new facility which includes a basketball practice facility (with two courts), men's basketball offices, a strength and conditioning complex, a locker room, a state-of-the-art sports medicine center, a Hall of Fame and a dining room.
Friars In Overtime: The Friars have recorded a 2-2 mark this season in overtime games. The Friars have registered a 64-67 mark all-time in overtime games.
"DG" Patch On Friar Uniforms: In memory of former Friar Head Coach Dave Gavitt the Friars have worn a "DG" patch on their uniforms since the 2011-12 season. Gavitt led PC and Eastern basketball into the modern age. In 10 seasons as the head coach of the Friars, Gavitt led PC to 209 wins, including eight consecutive 20- win seasons, five NCAA appearances, three NIT appearances and five New England Coach of the Year honors. He led the Friars to 23 wins over Top-20 teams. His 1973 team made it to Final Four. In 1971, Gavitt was named Director of Athletics at PC, a position he held until 1982 when he resigned to be the director of the BIG EAST Conference. He also was named Head Coach of the 1980 USA Olympic basketball team. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Providence College Basketball: The 2018-19 campaign marks the 92nd season of basketball at Providence College. Since the program started in 1926-27, Providence has posted a 1,463-983 mark, good for a .598 winning percentage. The Friars have made the NCAA Tournament 20 times and the National Invitation Tournament on 20 occasions.
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