MBB: Long-gestating vengeance against Providence achieved, 84-75

Box score and play-by-play

I really hate Providence College, ever since they ruined my birthday by beating the Tide in the Sweet 16 in 1987.  (I especially hated Billy Donovan, and he's certainly done nothing to change that.)  So I'm especially happy to report that Anthony Grant's crew went to 2-1 and knocked the Friars from the ranks of the unbeaten tonight.

It was a hardfought, back-and-forth game, which Providence led 37-33 at the half.  Neither team could get out to a lead of more than about five points, but Providence led much of the way.  Mikhail Torrance, however, wouldn't let the Tide lose.  Leading 76-75 with 46 seconds to go, he stole the ball and went coast-to-coast, laid the ball in, and was fouled, finishing the old-fashioned three-point-play to make it 89-75.  He then made three out of four further free throws (Andrew Steele getting an offensive board off the other) down the stretch to secure the win.  Torrance finished with 26, and played all but one minute.

In addition to Torrance, JaMychal Green was his usual self with fifteen points and twelve rebounds, but the key was Justin Knox, who hadn't done much in the first two games but finished with a double-double (13-10) of his own; he was only 1-6 from the field, but 11-12 from the line.  Senario Hillman, who dunked to end the game, finished with nine.  It was a very even game, as noted.  The Tide had one more rebound (47-46) and neither team shot well, but the Tide won the game at the line, hitting 27 of 35 free throws.