Friars Fall to #3 Michigan State in Wooden Championship

The PC Friars men's basketball team was defeated by No. 3 Michigan State, 77-64, in the championship game of the Wooden Legacy on Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The Friars moved to 6-1, while Michigan State improved to 7-0.

Junior Kris Dunn (New London, Conn.) and sophomore Ben Bentil (Wilmington, Del.) were named to the 2015 Wooden Legacy All-Tournament Team.

For the game, Dunn led all with 21 points and seven assists, he also grabbed five rebounds and registered seven assists. Bentil also had a 20-point game and grabbed seven rebounds. Bentil had his third 20-point game in Anaheim. He recorded a career-high 24 points in the 74-64 win over Evansville and a team-high 21 points in the 69-65 win over No. 11/10 Arizona. The game saw 12 lead changes and eight ties, with the Friars leading for the majority of the game (19:51).

The game opened with both Michigan State and Providence battling back and forth. With 11:53 left in the first, Lindsey tied the game and the Friars went on an 11 point run and held the Spartans to six points to get a five point lead, 26-21. Michigan State did not score for 4:04 minutes during that run.

The Spartans cut the Friars’ lead and the first half finished with the Friars trailing by two, 34-32. The first half saw six lead changes and five ties. Providence held the lead for the majority of the first, 9:34, while Michigan State led for 6:43.

In the first, Providence shot 13-of-26 (50%) from the field, including four from three-point territory. Bentil led all in scoring in the first with 13 points and also grabbed six boards. Dunn also added nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.

In the second half, the Friars built up a six point lead, 45-39, with 12:49 left. Michigan State, with 11:02 left, regained the lead with a nine point run to make the game 48-47. The Spartans took a seven point lead, 64-57, with 3:14 remaining after outscoring the Friars, 11-3. At the 2:49 mark Dunn hit a three to put Providence four-points behind, 64-60, but Michigan State regained the lead with seven of its final 13 points coming in free throws.
For the game, the Friars shot 25-of-53 (47%) with six from three-pointers and shot 8-of-12 (67%) from the free throw line.
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The Friars will return to action at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 with a game versus Hartford at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Network and OSN.