Providence Friars (14-11) 67

#13 Villanova Wildcats (20-5) 85

As lopsided as the final score looks, the game was actually much closer throughout than the result would indicate.  With 7 minutes left in the 2nd half, the Friars were only down by 1 and the game was up for grabs for either team.  Unfortunately, everything after that moment went the way of the home team Wildcats.

Eric Paschall was too much in the 2nd half, scoring 20 of his game-high 25 points for Villanova and was the main catalyst in the Wildcats pulling away late in the game against the visiting Friars.  Phil Booth added 20 of his own points to help distance Providence late in the contest.

For the Friars, Nate Watson got a healthy dose of post touches en route to his best game in a while, dropping 18 points and continuing to stay out of foul trouble.  I’m crossing my fingers that this is a new trend for Big Nate as he is too effective not to be on the court to dominate down low.

Game Notes: 

• Just throwing this out there, even though I’m sure every Villanova opponent is aware, but Phil Booth pushes off on every single one of his drives to the hoop.  It outrageous that he doesn’t foul out within 5 minutes each and every game.
• Ok, now that that’s out of the way…
• Eric Paschall has turned into quite a damn player.  Every single time that Villanova needed a big bucket in a big moment, he came through.  Uncanny ability to take and make the big shot.
• Kinda wish Rhode Island native and Villanova Freshman Cole Swider would’ve saw some time down the stretch.  If we’re going to lose by around 20, I want to see some guys I’ve followed since High School.
• As for the Friars, Watson scored basically any time he touched the ball.  Nate went 8-13 for 18 points and made it back-to-back games where he was out of foul trouble and basically unstoppable down low.

Feed this man the rock. Rinse and repeat. #pcbb #nova #BigNate #NateWatson pic.twitter.com/bcaBS5FdtY

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 14, 2019

• Watson also grabbed 6 boards for good measure and went a perfect 2-2 from the line.  If he’s making free throws, there’s no way to stop him from scoring.  Pick your poison.

• That makes it 18 points in each of the last two games, 5.5 rebounds, 59% from the floor and 83.3% from the line.
• Isaiah Jackson has a little flashback to his shooting woes from the beginning of the season, going 2-8 from the floor and a gopher from three-point range.  Jackson continues to be money from the line, hitting all 4 free throw attempts but we need him to get back to consistently hitting threes again if we want to do some serious damage.  Yes, I said we…get over it.  It’s just easier to say that.
• Alpha Diallo was the only other Friar in double figures, scoring 11 points but needing 11 shots to get there (4-11).
• David Duke ended up fouling out of the game after just 16 minutes of playing time.  It’s a shame too because when he was on the floor, he looked like he might have been able to be a difference-maker.  Duke was 2-2 from the field with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Run and dish. Run and dish. #pcbb #nova #daviddukejr #alphadiallo pic.twitter.com/fspNZcheXS

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 14, 2019 

• Don’t look now but A.J. Reeves is starting to get that groove back.  Reeves went 2-3 from deep en route to a pretty decent showing.  They seem to be easing him back but he’s starting to look like the Reeves of old.
• As for the bench, Young, Edwards, and White were the main (and basically only) contributors.
• It seems like when Young plays fewer minutes, he’s more efficient.  Does that make sense?  I’m always impressed with his numbers in such low minutes.  Young played just 13 minutes but went a perfect 2-2 from the floor, a perfect 2-2 from the line, racking up 6 points, finishing with 4 rebounds and an assist.  I think it’s because if you extrapolated his stats out to a full game stat-line, it would be mind-blowing.
• Edwards always gives you solid minutes off the bench.  He is as reliable as they come.
• White started to look like the White that pushed his way into the starting lineup earlier this year.  Maliek was 3-7 from the field for 8 points and didn’t turn the ball over.  That was a much needed solid return to form for the Junior guard.

Maliek White was making that coast to coast bucket no matter what! #pcbb #nova #determination #reverse #MaliekWhite pic.twitter.com/7rPI73NYYL

— The Morning Hangover (@TheMorningHang) February 14, 2019 

Here’s a little something to make you feel better in the meantime…

BC DAGGER. pic.twitter.com/ZLaV0pw5B3

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) February 15, 2019

Next Up, the Friars return home to take on Xavier.