sportssports

Providence rallies past Yale, 87-78

By The Associated Press
Published: December 22, 2009

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

PROVIDENCE -- Jamine Peterson had a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds to help Providence rally past Yale 87-78 on Monday night.

The Friars (8-4) pulled away down the stretch despite trailing most of the way against the Bulldogs (4-7), who were playing a major-conference team for the first time this season.

Sharaud Curry, Vincent Council, and Marshon Brooks added 13 points each for Providence.

The Bulldogs led 40-36 at halftime after leading by as many as 11 in the first half but the Friars finally proved too much, going on an 11-3 run after trailing by seven points with 12:28 to play. Brooks put Providence up for good, 65-63, on a 3-pointer with 8:36 left.

Alex Zampier, who finished with 25 points, scored 15 during the first half for the Bulldogs. Greg Mangano added 14 off the bench.

Yale had little trouble negotiating Providence's full court pressure in the early going, getting to the hoop for easy baskets in transition. The Bulldogs made 11 of their first 18 shots from the field against the Friars, who looked sluggish after eight days off for final exams.

"You'll always see upsets right after finals," said Friars coach Keno Davis.

The Friars looked like a different team in the second half, though. Providence's pressure began yielding more turnovers and Yale found fewer easy looks inside. On the offensive end, Council and Brooks came alive after scoring just a single basket between them in the first half.

Peterson scored 16 of his points in the second half, including two emphatic dunks.

"To be able to fight back to get the victory is something to be proud of," Davis said.

Peterson's double-double was his third in a row and seventh in 12 games. Seven of his 13 rebounds came on the offensive glass.

The game was the final non-conference tune-up for Friars before they kick off Big East play at Notre Dame on Dec. 30.

After rallying past the Bulldogs, the Friars will soon find out if they're ready for conference play. As of now, their coach doesn't think so.

"Not yet," Davis said. "We need to come back from break with more of an identity, defensively."