Live Blogging: 2018 Big East Semifinals: Providence Friars vs. Xavier Musketeers 03/09/2018

Big East Quarterfinals: Providence Friars at Xavier Musketeers (FS1 TV Broadcast) 03/09/2018

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. Tonight it is the Big East Quarterfinals as the
Providence Friars take on the Xavier Musketeers. The Friars come into tonight's game defeating Creighton, by the score of 72-68 in OT. Xavier advance to the semifinals with a 88--60 win over St. John's.

Providence comes in with a record of 20-12, 10-8 in Big East play and a RPI of 35. A win against Xavier and it will all but sure the Friars of an NCAA Tournament bid. The seniors are looking at being an historic bunch, as they are looking at the possibility of making it to the Madness all 4 years of their time at the Rhode Island school.

Statistically the Friars are led by Rodney Bullock in scoring. Alpha Diallo leads in rebounding. And Kyron Cartwright leads Providence in assists.

As for the Musketeers, they cannot afford to lose to Providence. A loss to the Friars and Xavier could be looking at losing the #1 seed in the tournament.

Statistically the Musketeers are led by Trevon Blueitt in scoring and rebounding. While Quentin Goodin leads Xavier in assists.

It is the Providence Friars taking on the Xavier Musketeers. Winner will advance to the Championship Game. Coming up shortly.

Game Location: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NY

Possible Starting Lineups:
#5 Providence Friars:
G: Diallo
G: Cartwright
G: Lindsey
G: White
F: Bullock

#1 Xavier Musketeers:
G: Bluiett
G: Macura
G: Goodin
F: Marshall
F: Kanter
​
Providence is in black. While Xavier is in white.

1st Half:
20:00: Providence wins the tipoff.
19:30: Marshall with a FG. PC 0, XOH 2
19:00: Bullock with a jump shot. PC 2, XOH 2
18:02: Kanter with a jump shot. PC 2, XOH 4
17:14: Bullock nails a 3-point FG. PC 5, XOH 4
16:56; Bluiett counters with a 3-point FG. PC 5, XOH 7
15:58: Goodin with a jump shot. PC 5, XOH 9
15:40: T.V. Timeout #1: PC 5, XOH 9
​
14:41: Watson with a Friars Hook Shot. PC 7, XOH 9
14:13: Scruggs with a 3-point FG. PC 7, XOH 12
13:04: Goodin with a dunk. PC 7, XOH 14
12:37: Lindsey with a 3-point FG. PC 10, XOH 14
12:17: O'Mara with a layup. PC 10, XOH 16
11:49: Scruggs with a dunk. PC 10, XOH 18
11:48: Friars Timeout #1; PC 10, XOH 18
​
9:29: Scruggs with a layup. PC 10, XOH 20
8:55: Jones with a jam and a foul. Jones makes a free throw. PC 10, XOH 23
8:41: Bullock makes a jump shot. PC 12, XOH 23
8:17: Macura with a jump shot. PC 12, XOH 25
7:47: Scruggs with a 3-point FG. PC 12, XOH 28
7:47: Friars Timeout #2: PC 12, XOH 28
​
7:41: Diallo makes a jump shot. PC 14, XOH 28
6:47: Lindsey makes a 3-point FG. PC 17, XOH 28
5:56: Kanter with a hook shot. PC 17, XOH 30
5:36: Cartwright with a layup and foul. Cartwright makes a free throw. PC 20, XOH 30
5:20: Kanter with another hook shot. PC 20, XOH 32
4:50: Bullock with a layup. PC 22, XOH 32
4:33: Kanter makes both free throws. PC 22, XOH 34
3:39: T.V. Timeout #2: PC 22, XOH 34
​
3:39: Diallo makes 1 of 2 free throws. PC 23, XOH 34
3:17; Blueitt makes both free throws. PC 23, XOH 36
2:57: Watson with a dunk. PC 25, XOH 36
2:57: Xavier is in the Bonus.
2:04: Goodin with a layup. PC 25, XOH 38
1:34: Diallo makes both free throws. PC 27, XOH 38
1:12: Both teams are in the Bonus.
1:04: Diallo makes both free throws. PC 29, XOH 38
:40: Scruggs draws a shooting foul on Cartwright, behind the 3-point line.
:40: Scruggs makes all 3 free throws. PC 29, XOH 41
:20: Musketeers Timeout #1: PC 29, XOH 41
​:04: Kanter with a jump shot. PC 29, XOH 43
:00: The end of the 1st Half. Xavier will inbound the ball to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
PC 29, XOH 43

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Scruggs (XOH) 13 points
Rebounding: Marshall (XOH) 7 rebounds
Assists: 3 players with 2 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Marshall leads the Musketeers with a dominance on the glass. The Musketeers are outrebounding the Friars 24-16.

Top 25 Scores:

2nd Half;
20:00: Xavier will inbound the ball to start the 2nd Half. Providence will have the Possession Arrow, in their favor.
​19:17: Macura with a layup. PC 29, XOH 45
18:47: Bullock with a FG. PC 31, XOH 45
18:35: Kanter with a layup. PC 31, XOH 47
18:09: Lindsey with a layup. PC 33, XOH 47
16:48: Diallo with a dunk. PC 35, XOH 47
16:17: Blueitt makes both free throws. PC 35, XOH 49
15:55: T.V. Timeout #1: PC 35, XOH 49
​
15:18: Macura makes a 3-point FG. PC 35, XOH 52
14:49: Diallo with a layup. PC 37, XOH 52
14:20: Ashton-Langford with a layup. PC 39, XOH 52
13:23: Ashton-Langford with a jump shot. PC 41, XOH 52
13:00: Diallo with a layup and a foul. Diallo misses a free throw. PC 43, XOH 52
13:00: Providence on 8-0 run in last 1:49.
12:45: Musketeers Timeout #1: PC 43, XOH 52
​
12:45: Scruggs makes both free throws. PC 43, XOH 54
12:23: Watson makes both free throws. PC 45, XOH 54
11:51: T.V. Timeout #2: PC 45, XOH 54
​
11:33: Cartwright makes a jump shot. PC 47, XOH 54
10:23: Marshall makes a jump shot. PC 47, XOH 56
9:54: Cartwright with a jump shot. PC 49, XOH 56
9;32: Kanter with a layup and a foul. Kanter with a free throw. PC 49, XOH 59
9:13: Cartwright with a layup. PC 51, XOH 59
8:35: Watson makes a jump shot. PC 53, XOH 59
8:00: Watson with a layup. PC 55, XOH 59
8:00: Providence are on a 20-7 run in last 7:18.
7:41: T.V. Timeout #3: PC 55, XOH 59
​
7:21: Xavier commits a shot clock violation.
6:59: Watson makes a jump shot. PC 57, XOH 59
6:30: Kanter makes a 3-point FG. PC 57, XOH 62
6:10: Bullock with a jump shot. PC 59, XOH 62
5:28: Diallo commits a huge offensive foul.
5:11: Macura with a layup. PC 59, XOH 64
4:53: Providence is in the Bonus.
4:53: Watson makes 1 of 2 free throws. PC 60, XOH 64
4:25: Cartwright with a jam. PC 62, XOH 64
3:45: Bullock ties the game with a jump shot. PC 64, XOH 64
3:33: Musketeers Timeout #3: PC 64, XOH 64
​
1:57: Bluiett makes both free throws. PC 64, XOH 66
1:00: Bullock makes both free throws. PC 66, XOH 66
:38: O'Mara with a jump shot. PC 66, XOH 68
:35: Musketeers Final Timeout: PC 66, XOH 68
​:12: Cartwright makes both free throws. PC 68, XOH 68
;00: Macura misses a jump shot. The game is heading to Overtime.

End of Regulation:
PC 68, XOH 68

Overtime:
​5:00: Providence wins the tipoff. Xavier will have the Possession Arrow, in their favor.
4:16: Bluiett with a jump shot. PC 68, XOH 70
3:48: Watson makes 1 of 2 free throws. PC 69, XOH 70
3:27: Providence is in the Double Bonus. While Xavier is in the Bonus.
3:27: Goodin misses a free throw.
2:24: Diallo makes a jump shot. PC 71, XOH 70
1:14: Friars Timeout: PC 71, XOH 70
​
:56: Cartwright with a jump shot. PC 73, XOH 70
:49: Musketeers Final Timeout: PC 73, XOH 70
:40.8: Bluiett makes both free throws. PC 73, XOH 72
:40.8: Friars Final Timeout: PC 73, XOH 72
:07: Macura charged with an offensive foul.
:07: OFFICIAL REVIEW: Officials reviewing the game clock. The game clock is at :07.7.
:05: Diallo makes both free throws. PC 75, XOH 72
:00: The game is over.

Final/OT:
PC 75, XOH 72

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Keanter (XOH) 18 points
Rebounding: Marshall (XOH) 12 rebounds
Assists: Cartwright (PC) 6 assists

Final Thoughts:
It was a miraclous performance by Xavier in the last 15 minutes and overtime. They overcame a 17-point defiicit. As for Xavier, this was a disappointing loss. The question will be whether Xavier will get a #1 seed in the NCAA MBK Tournament.

Providence will play the winner of tonight's game between Butler and Villanova.

Coming up on Shish on College Basketball, North Carolina and Duke.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.