Cotton carries PC past Fairfield
Saturday, November 24, 2012
With Senior Vincent Council still injured, junior Bryce Cotton scored a game high 21 points to lead Providence to a 66-47 victory over Fairfield University Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
Lee Goldsbrough started off on fire, making his presence known down low against the Stags as he had the game’s first 4 points.
“I focused on my confidence in the off season and now I don’t let a bad play get me down, I just try to keep on improving” said Goldsbrough after the game.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHowever the Stags would always keep the game close thanks to three baskets from Fairfield’s Derek Needham. The Friars played a disciplined first half as PC only had 1 team foul halfway through the half.
The play of the game came at the end of the half when Providence had the ball with 40 seconds left. After a couple of passes LaDontae Henton missed a three pointer but Goldsbrough collected the rebound and kicked it out to Josh Fortune. Fortune ended up shooting an air ball but Cotton came from the baseline collected the air ball and hit a reverse layup as time expired to give Providence a 25-17 lead
PC started the second half on a 17-2 run. Leading the run was Cotton, who scored 8 points in the first 8 minutes. As the half continued the Friars kept their foot on the gas pedal as they jumped out to a 45-29 lead with 8 minutes to play. Helping keep the lead for the Friars was Brice Kofane, who had back to back blocks as Fairfield’s Keith Matthews attempted to dunk.
In the final minutes the Friars kept up the pressure as Cotton forced a turnover at half court and passed it to a wide open Kofane beneath the Fairfield basket who slammed it home and slammed the door shut on any possible comeback by Fairfield.
“We are really down numbers and I am so proud of our kid’s effort” said PC Coach Ed Cooley. “Every game thus far our kids have come out and exceeded our effort levels”.
With the win Providence improves to 4-2 on the young season. The Friars will be back in action on Tuesday November 27, against Holy Cross at the Dunk. Tip off will be at 7:00.
Friar Notes
Henton had 15 points and 8 rebounds; Fortune scored 10 and recorded 4 assists, Goldsbrough and Kadeem Batts each ended up with 9 points...
