Madison Square Garden– Devin Carter and the Providence squad left no room for doubt about their NCAA Tournament aspirations with a commanding performance at Madison Square Garden.
Carter, who recently earned the title of Big East player of the year, led the charge with 22 points and 11 rebounds as Providence secured a crucial victory for their postseason hopes, holding off the eighth-ranked Creighton 78-73 in a thrilling conference quarterfinal on Thursday night.
“This was a must-win game for us. We’re determined to keep our tournament dreams alive and vie for the Big East championship,” said Carter, who showcased his endurance by playing all 40 minutes.
Josh Oduro contributed 17 points and nine rebounds for the seventh-seeded Friars (21-12), who showcased resilience in the final moments after surrendering a 13-point lead in the second half. They now advance to face No. 10 Marquette in the second semifinal on Friday night, following the third-seeded Golden Eagles’ overtime victory over the sixth-seeded Villanova, 71-65.
Jayden Pierre played a crucial role with 15 points and seven assists, delivering several pivotal shots down the stretch. Carter sealed the win with a late drive and sinking four free throws in the final 1:40.
“He’s a warrior,” praised first-year Friars coach Kim English. “There have been moments throughout the season where I’m just in awe. He’s truly exceptional.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner led the charge for second-seeded Creighton (23-9) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Despite their likely high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, the defeat marks another disappointing outing for the Bluejays in the Big East Tournament, where they have yet to clinch a victory in the finals after four attempts.
“Despite a physical game, we had opportunities late. I’m proud of the team’s resilience,” commented Creighton coach Greg McDermott. “We weren’t at our defensive best for a significant portion of the game.”
Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman each contributed 19 and 16 points, respectively, for the Bluejays, with Steven Ashworth adding 16 points.
Although Creighton maintained a perfect record from the free-throw line until late in the game, missing three crucial shots down the stretch proved costly. Providence, on the other hand, capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, with Carter sinking all nine of his attempts.
“This was one of our most outstanding efforts of the season,” English remarked proudly. “I’m incredibly proud of our team. They deserve all the credit.”
Despite trailing by 13 points with under 14 minutes remaining, Creighton mounted a spirited comeback, briefly taking the lead with just over five minutes left. However, Pierre’s clutch plays, including a decisive three-pointer, propelled Providence back into the lead, where they ultimately secured the victory.
Carter’s flawless performance from the free-throw line in the final minute delighted the Providence fans at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
With the win, Providence, which previously defeated No. 10 seed Georgetown 74-56 in the first round, solidifies their case for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, boasting their sixth Quad 1 win of the season.
“We’re a resilient team. You have to be in this league. We discussed it yesterday. If you’re not prepared and focused in this conference, it’s like a cannonball hitting your chest,” English emphasized. “We’re tough, and we’ve proven it. You need that toughness to compete here.”
English found himself on the receiving end of a technical foul early in the game for vehemently contesting a call against Carter. Despite the setback, Providence rallied and responded admirably to secure the victory.
Looking ahead, Providence is set to face Marquette in a highly anticipated matchup after splitting their two regular-season meetings and falling short in both encounters against Villanova.
