Efejuku, Providence hold off Cincinnati

CINCINNATI—Weyinmi Efejuku led a balanced Providence scoring attack with 18 points as the Friars extended their solid start in Big East play by holding off Cincinnati for an 87-79 win Wednesday night.

Sharaud Curry added 15 points and Jonathan Kale chipped in with 10 as Providence extended its winning streak to four. The 11-4 Friars have won seven of their last eight games and are 3-0 in the Big East for the first time since the 1988-1989 season.

After the Bearcats cut a nine-point deficit to two, Providence’s Jeff Xavier hit a 3-pointer with just under a minute left in the game to seal the win and finish with 12 points.

Efejuku went 6-for-6 on free throws in the final five minutes, including two with 21 seconds left.

Eight of the nine players who played for Providence scored at least eight points.

Cincinnati was led by Deonta Vaughn and Mike Williams, who scored 20 apiece.

It was a career high for Williams, a senior who missed the previous two seasons due to transfer rules and injury. Vaughn bounced back from the first scoreless game of his career Sunday in Cincinnati’s loss at Marquette.

Rashad Bishop added 11 points for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati (10-5, 0-2) has lost three straight after a four-game winning streak.

Randall Hanke scored four points during a 9-0 Providence run that left the Friars leading 32-26 with 5:57 left in the first half. Marshon Brooks scored on a 3-pointer and a driving lay-up as the Friars closed the half with a 7-2 run to take a 42-35 lead into halftime.

Providence took its biggest lead, 55-42, on Brian McKenzie’s 3-pointer with 14:54 left in the second half, before Cincinnati fought back to tie the game at 66 on Dion Dixon’s 15-foot jumper with 7:19 left in the game.