For the championship game of the Legends Classic at Prudential Center, you had two teams with two different styles. Providence, as evidenced by their win over Northwestern on Monday, likes to run and push the game's pace. Virginia, by comparison, wants to slow down the tempo and wear opponents out defensively. Tuesday's matchup would prove to be a clash of philosophies.
Led by stifling defense and timely shots, Virginia defeated Providence, 58-40, in the title game of the Legends Classic in Newark.
The title matchup started slowly as Providence and Virginia felt each other out like two prizefighters. Armaan Franklin and Jayden Gardner began to take the game over for the Cavaliers as both men scored the first eight baskets for their squad as they jumped out to a 19-9 lead at the 6:25 mark of the first half.
A Tale of Two Games
After shooting 48 percent (14-29) from beyond the arc against Northwestern on Monday night, the Friars were ice cold from the field in the first half. Providence (5-1) shot just 26 percent from the field and an abysmal 11 percent from three-point land as Virginia's defense swarmed, as they forced seven first-half turnovers.
The offense for the Cavaliers slowed down when Franklin picked up his second foul towards the tail end of the first half. Providence could not capitalize on his absence as they went to the locker room down 30-15.
Second Half Physicality
In the second half, the game started to get more physical as Kihei Clark's three-pointer stretched Virginia's lead to 17 with 15:16 left in regulation. From there, Providence turned up the defensively going to a full-court press. The Friars used the tight defense to generate an 11-2 run over 4:07 to cut the lead to six points. Noah Horchler scored eight points during that stretch as Virginia turned the ball over four times during that time.
"They used so much energy and they were coming at us," said Virginia head coach Tony Bennett. "Trapping. Back-tipping. Full-court press and I think that took a lot of energy out of them. But I did feel like, we kind of imposed our will a little bit with making it for them defensively."
Sophomore forward Kadin Shedrick was a thorn in the side of Providence as he picked up four blocks in the second half as the Friars tried to mount a comeback. After stopping the run from Providence, Virginia(4-2) went on a 14-4 run of their own to finish the game and win the Legends Classic title in Newark.
In a dominant performance, Jayden Gardner finished with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds. Armaan Franklin, who struggled with foul trouble, scored 14 points.
"I thought we started out these last two games locked in defensively and we came out to great starts," Gardner said. "We just got to keep that going in the second half when we started to see those little dips, but it's something to work on."
Providence, who shot 3-of-22 from beyond three, was led by Noah Horchler, who scored 14 points. The Friars shot just 23 percent from the field and scored five fast-break points in the defeat.
"Honestly, that's one of the best defensive efforts I've seen in years," Providence head coach Ed Cooley said. "They're connected. They're tough. When you can guard the ball 1-on-1 the way they do, you're not in rotation a lot.
Northwestern Dominates Georgia in Consolation Game
Boo Buie scored 22 points as Northwestern defeated Georgia, 78-62, in the consolation game in the Legends Classic. Ryan Young scored 17 points off the bench for the Wildcats as they picked up 20 assists on 28 field goals.
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