Heartbreak City for DePaul in 61-60 loss

In the end, the game came down to which team caught the breaks as the Providence Friars prevailed in a 61-60 Big East conference win over the DePaul Blue Demons in Rosemont, Illinois tonight.

"I can't believe these games in this league," said Providence College coach Tim Welsh. "The team that usually gets the breaks or the bounce at the end, comes through."

The game was close for the most part. DePaul did go on a seven point run early in the second half to open up a seven point lead, but the Friars managed to chip their way back.

DePaul led for most of the second half. Providence took the lead on the game winner which came with ten seconds remaining as freshman guard Sharaud Curry nailed a jump shot. "At the end of the clock we try to spread the floor and our guards try to take the ball into the lane and make plays," Welsh said.

Three Friars finished in double figures. Reserve Herbert Hill led all scorers with 20 points. Donnie McGrath scored 17 and Curry added 10 points.

DePaul also had three in double figures. Sammy Mejia led the way with 17 for the Blue Demons. Karron Clarke scored 11 points which all came in the first half. Senior center Marlon Brumfield contributed with 10 points.

Three point shooting for DePaul was a difference late in the game as DePaul shot 56% from behind the arc in the first half, but only 17% in the second half.

"We didn't run as much in the second half like we did in the first half," said Mejia. "We took our foot off the gas pedal. We played their style of game."

Free throw shooting was a difference as the Blue Demons shot 50% from the charity stripe. "You can't win a Big East game when you're 6 of 12 from the free throw line," said DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright. "Free throw shooting is a lost art and it's something that we really have to spend a lot of time improving on."

"It's a really tough loss for our kids," observed Wainwright. "But, I think they'll be really excited about playing Saturday (versus Villanova) and still have a great shot to realize their dreams this year."

Official Box Score

Postgame Audio