PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) (Jan. 5) - Jameel Watkins was the only double-digit scorer for the Hoyas with 11 points as Providence defeated Georgetown 55-48 in the Big East opener for both teams.
Georgetown (8-4, 0-1), shot just 30 percent for the game and had its six-game winning streak snapped. Erron Maxey scored a game-high 17 points to lead Providence.
Trailing most of the game, the Hoyas pulled within 46-45 on Kevin Braswell's free throw with 3:31 left. But Providence got the next two baskets on Abdul Mills' 14-foot jumper and an Maxey layup with 1:24 left. The Friars (8-6, 1-0) sank 5 of 6 free throws in the last 1:01 for the win.
The teams tied four times in the game's first four minutes. After Braswell sank a free throw to tie the score at 11 with 16:06 left, Providence went on a 19-4 run to take a 30-15 lead into intermission. The Hoyas shot 20 percent (6 for 29) in the first half.
The Friars took their biggest lead, 36-17, on Romuald Augustin's 18-foot jumper with 17:34 left. The Hoyas then forced several turnovers and went on a 12-0 run over a three-minute span to close within seven points, 36-29.
