Saturday, November 15, 2008 11:16 PM EST
Friars stumble in opener
PROVIDENCE – Providence College scratched and clawed in Keno Davis’ first game as head coach, but lost to Northeastern 70-66 Saturday night.
“This is a team that is still learning to play,” Davis said. “I wish we coached them up a little better for the first game.”
The Friars had a chance to tie the Huskies with one minute left to play and down three points, but Brian McKenzie was fouled and made one of two free throws to leave the Friars trailing 66-64.
Northeastern guard Chaisson Allen was fouled by Marshon Brooks with 30 seconds remaining and made one of two to increase the lead to three points 67-64.
Providence guard Weyinmi Efejuku turned the ball over with about 15 seconds remaining with his team trying to tie the score.
Allen was fouled again and nailed both free throws to give the Huskies a 69-64 lead.
Providence guard Sharaud Curry made a lay-up to make with five seconds left, but the Friars really needed a 3-pointer in order to have a chance.
Northeastern in bounded the ball to Baptiste Bataille and he was immediately fouled. Bataille made just one, but that was all the Huskies needed as they held on for their second win of the season.
Northeastern junior guard Matt Janning scored a game-high 24 points and Eugene Spates had 17 points including five from beyond the arc.
“We knew both were special players and they were the two guys who beat us,” Davis said.
Janning is a preseason first team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick after averaging 16.1 points per game last season. He was the best player on the court and was 10-of-14 with two 3-pointers.
Providence played sloppy ball the entire game, committing 21 turnovers, six coming from Efejuku and five from Geoff McDermott. The team shot only 40.7 percent for the game, but out-rebounded Northeastern 41-26. They were also only 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
“A big positive was that we were able to out-rebound a big strong team,” Davis said. “I was frustrated with the quality of our 3-point shots.”
The team utilized a full- court press in the second half that was able to slow the Huskies down in stretches and force them to commit turnovers, but it was not enough to stop them from taking shots from anywhere they wanted once they crossed half court.
Efejuku had a team-high 16 points and three steals for the Friars. but did not take care of the ball.
Providence forward Jonathan Kale had a strong game with 15 points and five rebounds, including four offensive boards. All his points came in the paint where Providence outscored Northeastern 36-26.
McKenzie had a stretch where he made three 3-pointers in three minutes in the second half.
His third brought the Friars within three points with just over six minutes remaining.
Providence forward Geoff McDermott tied the score with a 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining.
But Bataille and Spates hit back-to-back 3s to give the Huskies a six-point advantage.
Efejuku brought his team back and tied the score at 63 with a free throw, but Janning hit a 3 that demoralized the Friars and give Northeastern a lead it would not give up.
Davis gave credit to Northeastern after the game, saying they looked ready for conference play. He was disappointed with the loss, but said his team will bounce back.
“Sometimes teams need to take a loss early to get going,” Davis said.
This is Davis’ first season as Providence’s head coach after a successful season at Drake University, where he lead them to an NCAA tournament berth. He was also named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.
The Friars are now 8-2 all time vs. Northeastern, including 5-1 at home. They defeated the Huskies 92-70 in their last meeting on Dec. 20, 2005 in Providence.
This is the Friars first season-opening loss since falling to Holy Cross in 1999.
Providence (1-0) plays at home against Dartmouth (0-1) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“This is a team that is still learning to play,” Davis said. “I wish we coached them up a little better for the first game.”
The Friars had a chance to tie the Huskies with one minute left to play and down three points, but Brian McKenzie was fouled and made one of two free throws to leave the Friars trailing 66-64.
Northeastern guard Chaisson Allen was fouled by Marshon Brooks with 30 seconds remaining and made one of two to increase the lead to three points 67-64.
Providence guard Weyinmi Efejuku turned the ball over with about 15 seconds remaining with his team trying to tie the score.
Allen was fouled again and nailed both free throws to give the Huskies a 69-64 lead.
Providence guard Sharaud Curry made a lay-up to make with five seconds left, but the Friars really needed a 3-pointer in order to have a chance.
Northeastern in bounded the ball to Baptiste Bataille and he was immediately fouled. Bataille made just one, but that was all the Huskies needed as they held on for their second win of the season.
Northeastern junior guard Matt Janning scored a game-high 24 points and Eugene Spates had 17 points including five from beyond the arc.
“We knew both were special players and they were the two guys who beat us,” Davis said.
Janning is a preseason first team All-Colonial Athletic Association pick after averaging 16.1 points per game last season. He was the best player on the court and was 10-of-14 with two 3-pointers.
Providence played sloppy ball the entire game, committing 21 turnovers, six coming from Efejuku and five from Geoff McDermott. The team shot only 40.7 percent for the game, but out-rebounded Northeastern 41-26. They were also only 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
“A big positive was that we were able to out-rebound a big strong team,” Davis said. “I was frustrated with the quality of our 3-point shots.”
The team utilized a full- court press in the second half that was able to slow the Huskies down in stretches and force them to commit turnovers, but it was not enough to stop them from taking shots from anywhere they wanted once they crossed half court.
Efejuku had a team-high 16 points and three steals for the Friars. but did not take care of the ball.
Providence forward Jonathan Kale had a strong game with 15 points and five rebounds, including four offensive boards. All his points came in the paint where Providence outscored Northeastern 36-26.
McKenzie had a stretch where he made three 3-pointers in three minutes in the second half.
His third brought the Friars within three points with just over six minutes remaining.
Providence forward Geoff McDermott tied the score with a 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining.
But Bataille and Spates hit back-to-back 3s to give the Huskies a six-point advantage.
Efejuku brought his team back and tied the score at 63 with a free throw, but Janning hit a 3 that demoralized the Friars and give Northeastern a lead it would not give up.
Davis gave credit to Northeastern after the game, saying they looked ready for conference play. He was disappointed with the loss, but said his team will bounce back.
“Sometimes teams need to take a loss early to get going,” Davis said.
This is Davis’ first season as Providence’s head coach after a successful season at Drake University, where he lead them to an NCAA tournament berth. He was also named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.
The Friars are now 8-2 all time vs. Northeastern, including 5-1 at home. They defeated the Huskies 92-70 in their last meeting on Dec. 20, 2005 in Providence.
This is the Friars first season-opening loss since falling to Holy Cross in 1999.
Providence (1-0) plays at home against Dartmouth (0-1) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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