PC falls apart in second half

St. John’s finishes off season sweep of up-and-down Friars

After watching his team get ripped apart at the seams during a second half to forget, PC coach Ed Cooley laid into his players after Providence was dusted by St. John’s, 81-67, in Queens on Wednesday night.

The post-halftime Friars surrendered 51 points on 55 percent shooting and meekly concluded the game as the Red Storm surged to the finish line behind a 21-7 run. PC went from up 11 at halftime to getting outscored by 25 points over the final 20 minutes.

“That was absolutely disgusting to see. We had no urgency. We had no pop. Very disappointed in the group after a good week of preparation,” said Cooley. “Give them credit. They got to the basket at will, but we didn’t fight in the second half.

“I’m absolutely beside myself. It’s inexcusable to play that poorly defensively this time of year. Our players should feel embarrassed, but I have to do a better job with this group because that wasn’t very good.”

Cooley then added his group will be ready for Saturday’s 2 p.m. tip against Villanova. It’s the final regular-season game before the Friars (12-12, 8-10 Big East) embark on the Big East Tournament – a mustwin scenario if PC is going to gain access to this year’s installment of March Madness.

“We know we’re going to have a tough game [versus Villanova], but we’ve got to find a way to win. It’s that simple. That’s what we signed up for. Villanova is a good basketball team, but so are we when we want to be,” said Cooley. “I 100 percent believe in my team. We picked the wrong day to play that poor defensively.”

Some easy opportunities off Friar turnovers helped St. John’s seize control, but PC didn’t help matters by shooting 35 percent in the second half and missing all nine attempts from three.

“They outplayed us. They had way more urgency,” said Cooley. “You have to flush [a game like Wednesday’s] per se, but you’ve got to have some pride.”

Of the 21 points netted by St. John’s guard Rasheem Dunn, 18 came after halftime. The Red Storm becomes the first team to sweep the Friars home and away this season.

“We had a tough time staying in front of him,” said Cooley about Dunn.

Nate Watson led the Friars with 19 points while David Duke netted 16 points before fouling out. Jared Bynum came off the bench and supplied 13 points.

Photo courtesy of PC Athletics A.J. Reeves and the Providence Friars gave up 53 points in the second half, as St. John’s overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to secure an 81-67 victory Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PC Athletics Greg Gantt (1) and Providence played well in the first half Wednesday night against St. John’s, but the Friars’ defense fell apart in the second half of an 81-67 Big East road defeat.