Friars Fall to Seton Hall 81-71

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Monday, January 31, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Following upset wins over 19th-ranked Louisville and 7th-ranked Villanova, the Providence Friars were hoping to ride that wave of winning basketball to Newark, New Jersey where they met the Seton Hall Pirates Sunday. Unfotunately, PC dug itself an early hole that it could never climb out of and lost to the Pirates 81-71.

Seton Hall jumped out to a 25-11 lead thanks to Herb Pope who scored 9 of his game-high 23 points in the first 12+ minutes of the game.

The Pirates would essentially hold the Friars at arm’s length the rest of the afternoon en route to the 10 point victory.

Marshon Brooks led Providence with 20 points. He scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half. Vincent Council also scored 20 for PC while Bilal Dixon added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Friars who drop to (13-9, 2-7 Big East) on the season. PC is now tied for 14th place in the conference standings.

Pope (23 pts, 10 reb) was one of 5 Pirates in double figures. Jeff Robinson scored 20, Jordan Theodore 11, Jeremy Hazel and Keon Lawrence each had 10. With the win, Seton Hall improved to (10-12, 4-6 Big East).

The road has not been friendly to the Friars who are now (0-6) in true road games this season. They return to the Dunk Wednesday night to host South Florida. The Bulls are also (2-7) in Big East play with one of those victories coming at the expense of PC down in Tampa. South Florida (8-14 overall) beat the Friars 79-72 on January 16th.