RUTGERS BASKETBALL LOSES, AGAIN...

Providence showed little sign of a letdown from their monumental upset of No. 1 Pittsburgh earlier in the week as they led host Rutgers 62-43 with 8:35 remaining in their Big East conference match-up on Sunday afternoon.

However, the Scarlet Knights did not go away without a fight as they embarked on a 16-0 run in the next five and a half minutes to cut the lead to 62-59 with three-minutes left. After a PC timeout, Jeff Xavier's Three-Pointer Thwarts Rutgers' Rally (Providence Journal) as PC wins 73-66. Xavier's 25-footer was the lone field goal made by the Friars in the last 8:35 of the game.

Weyinmi Efejuku led PC with 28 points and Xaiver added 13. PC's Reward is a Bye in the Big East Tournament (Providence Journal) as their two-game sweep over UC guarantees them a finish no-worse than 8th in the Big East.

As for RU it is the same ol', same ol' as the Knights Set a Dubious Mark (Asbury Park Press) of back-to-back home losing marks the last two seasons.

Freshman Greg Echenique had a great all-around game for Rutgers, scoring 14 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, blocking 7 shots and making 5 steals. Makes you wonder why they can only get him 8 shot attempts in a game...

The Scarlet Knights, 1-15 in the Big East, will play out the string this week with a trip to Syracuse and back home for senior day on Saturday when they host South Florida. For the first time in Fred Hill's tenure at RU, the Scarlet Knights will be invited to the Big East Conference Tournament as all 16 teams are going for the first time. Congrats, I guess...