Marquette breaks Big East losing streak with win over Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Freshman Henry Ellenson had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, swatting away Kris Dunn's attempted buzzer-beater to lead Marquette to a 65-64 victory over No. 8 Providence on Tuesday night.
Duane Wilson scored on a layup with 31 seconds left to give Marquette (11-4, 1-2 Big East) the 65-64 lead. The Golden Eagles avoided opening the conference schedule with three straight losses for the first time since joining the Big East in 2005.
Ben Bentil scored 28 points, including 14 straight for the Friars in a key second-half run, and added nine rebounds for Providence (14-2, 2-1), which had won eight straight. Dunn had 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals for the Friars, who had climbed to their highest ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 since 1977.
Providence fell behind 7-0 and did not take its first lead until a 16-4 run midway through the second. The Friars led 58-50 with 6 minutes left before giving up eight straight points.
Dunn hit a 3-pointer to give the Friars back the lead. Providence led 64-61 when Ellenson fed Luke Fischer underneath for a dunk, Bentil missed a layup and Wilson grabbed the rebound to set up his game-winner.
Providence called time out with 24 seconds left and ran the clock down, but became frantic trying to get the ball to Dunn in the closing seconds. He tried to drive, then pulled up but couldn't clear enough space to get off a shot.
As the buzzer sounded, PC coach Ed Cooley went onto the court to argue for a foul call, with no success.
It was the Golden Eagles' second victory over a ranked team this season. They beat then-No. 22 LSU in November.
Haanif Cheatham scored 16 points for the Golden Eagles, who had won nine in a row, including a victory over Wisconsin, before opening the conference schedule with two losses. But they came out stronger, scoring the first seven points of the game while the Friars had five missed shots and four turnovers.
Dunn finally ended the drought with 15:40 left in the half on a layup. But he didn't score again until he hit a 3-pointer with 4 1-2 minutes left in the first half cut Providence's deficit to 24-17.
The Friars trailed 42-34 with 15 minutes to play before scoring 16 of the next 20 points to take their first lead. It was 46-44 Marquette when Bentil made three baskets and then eight free throws -- 14 straight Providence points.
TIP-INS
Marquette: Leads the all-time series 15-6. In Big East play, Marquette is 13-3. The Golden Eagles lead 4-3 in conference games in Providence.
Providence: The Friars were off to their best start since going 15-0 to open the 1964-65 season. ... Ryan Fazekas returned after missing six straight games with mono. ... It's the first time that the Friars have ever been the highest-ranked team in the Big East.
UP NEXT
Marquette: hosts St. John's on Saturday.
Providence: visits Creighton on Tuesday.
