Villanova is upset by Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I - Villanova coach Jay Wright couldn't say enough positive things about Providence College's guards.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Providence might not follow suit.

Marshon Brooks scored 20 points while guards Gerard Coleman and Vincent Council added 16 apiece Wednesday night as the Friars beat their second consecutive ranked opponent by dispatching the No. 8 Wildcats, 83-68, in a Big East Conference game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Providence (13-9, 2-6) upset No. 19 Louisville, 72-67, on Saturday.

The victory snapped Villanova's eight-game winning streak against the Friars and its four-game winning streak on Providence's court.

Malik Wayns led Villanova (17-3, 5-2) with 18 points while Antonio Pena scored 17 and pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds.

Providence led nearly wire-to-wire in a game that featured only one tie (8-8).

As much as anything, the Wildcats were hampered by their inability to make shots as they connected on a season-low 32.5 percent of their field goals (25 for 77).

Corey Stokes was 2 for 16. Corey Fisher was 2 for 10.

"Our shooting obviously was a factor, but I think you've got to give Providence credit," Wright said. "Their guards controlled the game. We've had a lot of success with our guards controlling some games, but this wasn't one of them.

"Their guards were great. They got to the foul line. [Coleman and Brooks shot a combined 8 for 10 at the stripe.] Our guards got shots but they were tough shots . . . contested shots. You've got to give [Providence] credit for that."

Providence led by 34-25 at halftime and the Wildcats never were able to reduce their deficit to fewer than seven points.

The only thing more frigid in the first half - including the weather - was Villanova's shooting.

The Wildcats connected on 25.7 percent (9 for 35) of their shots, including a mere 11.1 percent (1 for 11) from beyond the arc.

Other than the opening half against Connecticut, when they shot 24.2 percent (8 for 33), the Wildcats had not delivered a worse first-half performance this season.

A case could be made that the only reason Providence didn't lead by more than 11 points at halftime was because Villanova outrebounded the Friars, 29-21, and scored a modest eight second-chance points.

But even though Villanova finished the game with a 50-42 edge in rebounds, Wright felt that statistic was deceiving.

"Some of those were at the end," Wright said. "When it counted in big possessions, they got offensive rebounds at the end.

"When we got it to around seven points, we'd get a stop and they'd get an offensive rebound - and then [there was] a foul. A lot of those foul shots were Brooks getting offensive rebounds and getting fouled."

When Villanova pulled within seven (50-43) with 10:03 left, the Friars went on a streak in which they sank 14 consecutive free throws.