Thriller in Providence tonight as St. John's won 72-70 on an offensive rebound putback at the buzzer by Ejiofor, who had a severe mismatch with a smaller guard trying ineffectively to block him out. Ejiofor easily high-pointed the rebound over him.
Providence led by 15-18 points for stretches of this game, but they are prone to offensive droughts, partly because of no Bryce Hopkins (out with left knee tendinitis and has missed 9 games), and partly because PC's big men suck. PC was playing a 7'2" guy named Anton Bonke, who doesn't look like a total dork and runs the floor well but looks like he is a complete stranger to the college game. He is from the country of Vanuatu which I honestly have never heard of. During the game he showed his inexperience and only scored 4 points and 1 board which, combined with the 7'1" Christ Essandoko (who UConn briefly kicked tires on) gave PC 4 points and 2 boards at the 5 position. PC's best player was Miami transfer Bensley Joseph, who looked like a poor man's Kemba Walker but did not have a ton of help.
St. John's looked good on D but kept PC in the game by shooting 11-26 on FTs and 3-18 on 3s. This is not a good shooting team at all.
Providence led by 15-18 points for stretches of this game, but they are prone to offensive droughts, partly because of no Bryce Hopkins (out with left knee tendinitis and has missed 9 games), and partly because PC's big men suck. PC was playing a 7'2" guy named Anton Bonke, who doesn't look like a total dork and runs the floor well but looks like he is a complete stranger to the college game. He is from the country of Vanuatu which I honestly have never heard of. During the game he showed his inexperience and only scored 4 points and 1 board which, combined with the 7'1" Christ Essandoko (who UConn briefly kicked tires on) gave PC 4 points and 2 boards at the 5 position. PC's best player was Miami transfer Bensley Joseph, who looked like a poor man's Kemba Walker but did not have a ton of help.
St. John's looked good on D but kept PC in the game by shooting 11-26 on FTs and 3-18 on 3s. This is not a good shooting team at all.