Providence Friars (13-9) 86

1. They didn’t take care of the ball, turning it over 19 times in the game.  Games are hard to win when you have more turnovers than assists (15).
2. The were able to get to the free throw line 27 times in this game, which is great.  Unfortunately, they only connected on 18 of those attempts, converting on 66.7% from the line.
3. As well as the Friars shot in the game, St. John’s also shot the lights out, shooting 52.5% from the floor, 47.6% from three (on 21 shots), and 89.5% from the line (on 19 shots).
4. Kind of a 4, those refs.

• Rodney Bullock has one of his better offensive games in a while, shooting 8-13 from the floor for a team-high 20 points.
• Unfortunately, he also turned the ball over 4 times.
• But, back to good things, he tied for a team-high with 8 rebounds.
• Kalif Young got the start over Emmitt Holt in an attempt to switch up some of the lineup.
• Oddly, Young didn’t record a single rebound in 18 minutes.  Off the bench he’s basically been feasting on rebounds in limited minutes.  Now he starts and doesn’t get a single rebound, I think it’s just weirder than anything else.
• Kalif did have a nice little pick-and-roll play with Cartwright.

• Maybe it was the fresh haircut.
• Alpha Diallo had his official best game of the year for the Friars.  This is now the 5th time that I’ve written those words but I think this time it’s going to stand for a while.
• Diallo had actually been struggling since being inserted into the starting lineup but showed up in a big way for this game.  Maybe being from NYC he had some extra motivation to show out in this game.
• Alpha was 5-6 from the floor for a new career-high 18 points, his first time ever even scoring in double figures.  
• He also recorded a new career-high in rebounds, tying with Bullock for a team-high 8 rebounds on the night, utilizing his length against some smaller opposition.
• Let’s see, any more new career-highs?  YUP!  A new career-high 4 assists (to just one TO).
• He also had career-highs in free throws made and attempted, going 8-8 from the charity stripe.
• Oh, and he chipped in a block and a steal just so he could completely fill out the rest of the scoresheet.
• GREAT game from Alpha…just wished he threw this one down with some authority.

• Nice mean mug though.
• Jalen Lindsey continued to excel with the three-ball, hitting 3-6 from behind the arc for 13 points.  
• Lindsey also showed off his crazy athleticism with this rebound…

• Unfortunately, Lindsey struggled with some foul trouble that limited his time on the floor.
• Kyron Cartwright was very efficient from the floor, going 6-10 for 16 points but didn’t take care of the ball in the way that us Friar fans are used to, turning the ball over 6 times.
• My favorite Cartwright play was this high-stepping from coast-to-coast doing his best Prime Time impression.

Cartwright doing his best Deion Sanders impression #pcbb #sjbb #highsteppin #kyroncartwright #showtime pic.twitter.com/Dk6GJOVePg

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 1, 2017

• Maliek White had a very nice game off the pine, dropping 2 threes for 6 points.
• P.S. I hate Marcus Lovett now.  Fact.
• And one more Cartwright highlight that I’m tallying up as a dunk.

The steal and finish from Cartwright that I am officially calling a dunk #pcbb #sjbb #kyroncartwright #slammajamma #closeenough pic.twitter.com/KtDvdmqjI8

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 1, 2017

• The Friars throwback jerseys were absolutely FIRE and I need one more than I need just about anything else in my entire life…