DePaul’s Streak of Futility Ends in Providence
Friday, February 18, 2011
What a low point!
In what has been a very difficult season for the PC Friars, Thursday night at the Dunk they hit rock bottom. Providence handed DePaul its first Big East win of the season by falling to the Blue Demons 79-76.
Providence did itself no favors in this one. The Friars were even with the Blue Demons at 24-24 with 6:37 to go in the first half. That’s when DePaul went on a 15-5 run to close out the half taking a 39-29 lead at the break.
The Blue Demons extended that lead to 13 points early in the second half before the Friars started to chip away. Marshon Brooks (28 pts, 7 reb) helped lead the Friars back. PC tied the game at 58-58 with 8:36 left, but DePaul wouldn’t give in.
Jeremiah Kelly scored the Blue Demon’s final 7 points of the game on his way to a career-high 23 points setting off a celebration on the DePaul bench while bringing a chorus of boos from the sparse crowd which was listed at 5,021.
The win snapped a record 25-game Big East losing streak. It also ended a 29-game road losing streak for DePaul. It also may have damaged any hopes the Friars had of possibly playing in the NIT.
Brooks was held out of the Friars starting line-up for what was termed a minor rules violation. Freshman Gerard Coleman returned to the line-up after serving a 1-game suspension for supposed academic shortcomings. Coleman finished the night with 6 points.
Duke Monday played well for PC finishing the game with 17 but the Friars now drop to (14-12) on the season and (3-10) in the Big East.
DePaul improves to (7-18) with the win. The Blue Demons are now (1-12) in the Big East Conference.
PC hosts Cincinnati tomorrow night at the Dunk. Tip-off is at 7pm.
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