Thu Mar 6 21:25:22 2008

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Efejuku leads Providence over No. 13 Connecticut

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Providence, RI (Sports Network) - Weyinmi Efejuku scored 25 points as Providence stunned 13th-ranked Connecticut, 85-76, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Jeff Xavier added 21 points and five assists for the Friars (15-14, 6-11 Big East), who have won two straight after dropping their previous five games. Geoff McDermott chipped in with 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots for Providence, which kept alive its chances of qualifying for the Big East tourney.

Stanley Robinson and Hasheem Thabeet each scored 16 points for the Huskies (23-7, 12-5), who lost for just the second time in 14 games. Thabeet added a game-high 13 boards, while Jeff Adrien netted 13 points and pulled down seven boards.

The Huskies' leading scorer, A.J. Price, was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Connecticut took a precarious one-point lead into the second half and things remained razor close deep into the stanza.

With the score deadlocked at 48, the Friars finally garnered some breathing room with a 7-1 burst. Xavier capped the mini-run with a three and Providence led 55-49 with 8:40 left on the clock.

The teams traded buckets over the next several minutes as the game headed toward the stretch. McKenzie stroked a three that gave the Friars a seven- point advantage with just 2:11 remaining.

Price hit a jumper at the other end but Xavier answered by hitting two from the line and then followed by finding Efejuku for an uncontested alley-oop on the fastbreak to give Providence a 73-64 lead with 1:44 left.

The Friars then made enough of their free throws in the waning seconds to secure things.

The first half was tightly contested throughout. UConn had the biggest lead of the frame after Price deposited a layup on the fastbreak to make it a 26-21 game with 5:52 left.

But, Providence responded and closed the half strongly. McDermott buried a jumper with two minutes left to put the Friars back on top, 32-31.

Adrien then capped the scoring in the stanza by getting loose for a dunk and the Huskies took a slim 33-32 edge into the locker room.

Game Notes

Providence also beat UConn on January 17, 77-65...The Huskies still own a 40-26 lead in the all-time series...Providence is an impressive 10-4 at home while UConn is 7-4 in true road games.