Hoyas fall in Cooley’s return to Providence

Ed Cooley helped build the frothing Friars fan base, so he was prepared for the Providence crowd to aim its fury at him.

“They are like that every game,” the former Providence coach said on Saturday after PC, egged on by a rabid and often vulgar crowd, rallied in the final two minutes to beat Cooley and the visiting Georgetown Hoyas, 84-76.

“One of the hardest places in America to play, in this building. Trust me, I know,” Cooley said.

Devin Carter scored 11 of his 29 points in the last two minutes — including seven straight — as Providence (14-6, 5-4 Big East) came from behind to seal the hostile welcome back for its former coach.

Cooley, a Providence native who coached the Friars for 12 seasons before angering his hometown by defecting to Georgetown (8-12, 1-8), was cursed from his first arrival on the court.

Iowa St. 79, Kansas 75

In Ames, Iowa, Tre King had 21 points and nine rebounds, and No. 23 Iowa State (16-4, 5-2 Big 12) knocked off No. 7 Kansas (16-4, 4-3). Hunter Dickinson led Kansas with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

North Carolina 75, Florida St. 68

In Tallahassee, Fla., RJ Davis scored 24 points and No. 3 North Carolina (17-3, 9-0 ACC) rallied from an eight-point deficit early in the second half to get past Florida State (12-8, 6-3).

Kentucky 63, Arkansas 57

In Fayetteville, Ark., Antonio Reeves scored a gamehigh 24 points and No. 6 Kentucky (15-4, 5-2 SEC) overcame a sub-par shooting performance to put away Arkansas (10-10, 1-6).

Duke 72, Clemson 71

In Durham, N.C., Tyrese Proctor hit two free throws with 1 second left to help No. 12 Duke (15-4, 6-2 ACC) hang on to beat Clemson (13-6, 3-5), barely averting the program’s first home loss to the Tigers in nearly three decades.

Butler 88, Villanova 81, 2OT

In Indianapolis, DJ Davis scored all of his seasonhigh 28 points after halftime with 10 coming in two overtimes and Butler (14-7, 5-5 Big East) rallied past Villanova (11-9, 4-5).

Duquesne 68, Fordham 59

In Pittsburgh, Jake DiMichele had 15 points as Duquesne

(11-8, 2-5 A10) beat Fordham (9-11, 3-4). Elijah Gray led the way for the Rams with 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

Columbia 84, Penn 81

Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa scored 24 points as Columbia (10-7, 1-3 Ivy) took down Pennsylvania (9-10, 1-3) in Morningside Heights.

Monmouth 81, Hofstra 78

In West Long Branch, N.J., Xander Rice led Monmouth with 31 points and sealed the victory with three free throws with two seconds left as the Hawks (11-10, 4-4 CAA) defeated Hofstra (11-10, 4-4).

Fairleigh Dickinson 93, Sacred Heart 91

In Teaneck, N.J., Ansley Almonor’s 22 points helped Fairleigh Dickinson (10-12, 4-3 NEC) defeat Sacred Heart (10-12, 4-3).