Providence clips USC on last-second game-winner
RALEIGH, N.C. — Providence had the ball under its own basket with three seconds left, down 69-68 Thursday night.
Somehow Southern Cal lost Rodney Bullock on the out-of-bounds play and he was wide open under the basket and simply banked it in from point-blank range. That’s how Providence won the topsy-turvy first round game 70-69.
The Trojans missed a pair of one-and-ones in the final moments and those points left on the floor ruined them in the end. Bullock scored his 16th point, matching teammate Kris Dunn. Ben Bentil led the Friars with 18.
Providence earned the right to play North Carolina in the round of 32 on Saturday.
Asked what happened on the decisive play, Friars coach Ed Cooley offered a simple answer. “Divine Providence,” he said.
NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND HIGHLIGHTS