Friars Win: Providence 60, Memphis 51

• After an ugly start to the game that included a ton of turnovers by both teams, Providence ended the first half on an 8-0 run to close the first stanza down by 1, 30-29. Memphis led by as many as 12 points in the first half and Rodney Bullock only took 2 shots in the opening 20 minutes of action. Bullock eventually took control of the game for the Friars down the stretch, converting on three old-fashioned 3-point plays and finished with a team-high 18 points.
• Emmitt Holt was back in the starting lineup after sitting against St. Francis (NY) with a sore hamstring. Holt looked good all night and led the Friars with 10 rebounds. He also chipped in 16 points to notch his 2nd double-double as a Friar.
• Kyron Cartwright took 10 first half shots and had too many turnovers but was much better late in the first half and controlled the tempo very well in the second half. Cartwright finished with 13 points and 5 assists, to go along with 5 turnovers. He also went 7/8 from the free throw line.
• Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Lindsey provided some solid minutes with both players providing solid wing pressure in Providence’s zone defense.
• Ed Cooley quickly realized that Memphis had a very stagnant and ineffective zone offense and the Friars played the majority of the game in a 2-3 zone and mixed in a 1-2-2 3/4 court zone press.
• Providence forced 17 Memphis turnovers and scored 19 points off those giveaways.
• The Friars return to action on Saturday, November 26th against Virginia in the finals of the 2016 Emerald Coast Classic at 7:00pm EST. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. Just getting Virginia on their schedule will give Providence an RPI boost regardless of the outcome of Saturday night’s game.

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Mike Hopkins

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