The Greatest Games in History PROVIDENCE 32 at ST. JOHN’S 30 Providence College scored its first major Dec. 18 triumph, defeating St. John’s and its 1928 “Wonder Five” which lost just four games in four years (two to PC). Led by AllAmerican Ed Wineapple’s 15 points, PC stunned the heavily favored St. John’s, in front of the New York media, giving the Friars their first national exposure and marking them as the team to beat in New England for the next decade. PROVIDENCE 60 - RHODE ISLAND 54 After dominating New England colJan. lege basketball during the thirties, 16 Providence College saw its program 1942 decline in the forties. Rhode Island State, on the other hand, was coached by Frank Keaney and was a program on the rise. The teams collided in Rhode Island Auditorium before 5800 fans as Ted McConnon and Chet Zabek powered the Friars to the upset. PROVIDENCE 85 - NOTRE DAME 83 (OT) With a new coach (Joe Mullaney) and a Feb. new gym (Alumni Hall), Providence was 14 1956 a rising star looking for the big stage. Notre Dame came to Alumni Hall and after trailing most of the game, tied it with seconds left in regulation. With most of the starters fouled out, little used Gordie Holmes found himself with the ball with just a few seconds left in overtime. His 45-foot prayer was answered and Friar basketball was “On the Map”. PROVIDENCE 90 at VILLANOVA 83 (4OT) For the first time, Providence fans an. were able to follow their team on radio J24 and the Friars made the most of the 1959 opportunity, defeating nationally-ranked Villanova in the storied Palestra in a four overtime performance that still ranks as one of the greatest games ever played in the old barn. Johnny Egan scored 39 in one of the Palestra’s greatest individual performances to this day. The win propelled the Friars to their first NIT. PROVIDENCE 75 - ST. LOUIS 72 (2OT) NIT After defeating Manhattan in the first Mar. round of the NIT, the Friars found them17 1959 selves up against pre-tournament favorite St. Louis, led by All-America Bob Ferry. Dubbed ‘Mullaney’s Midgets’ by the New York media because they started no one over 6’5”, the Friars pulled off the double overtime upset and became the darlings of New York City on their annual treks to the NIT. PROVIDENCE 64 at ST. JOSEPH’S 63 Almost one year after the stunning n. upset of Villanova, the Friars returned Ja 23 to the Palestra to face nationally 1960 ranked St. Joseph’s. With a minute left and the Hawks clinging to a 63-60 lead, PC’s Lenny Wilkens stole the ball three consecutive times (twice from All-America Bobby McNeil and once from Paul Westhead) converting two for baskets and another improbable upset. PROVIDENCE 89 at ST. BONAVENTURE 90 (3OT) Providence traveled to the Olean Armory Feb. where the balconies hung over the court 9 1960 and the Bonnies had a 91-game winning
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streak that dated back to 1948. Lenny Wilkens’ 34 points helped PC to a one point lead with 30 seconds left. But St. Bonaventure’s Tom Stith, who finished with a PC opponent record 46-points, hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to keep the streak alive. PROVIDENCE 90 - HOLY CROSS 83 (OT) NIT No time remained on the clock when ar. Vinnie Ernst stepped to the free throw M23 line of the NIT semifinal with the score 1961 tied at 75 in a game with New England rival Holy Cross. Ernst was waved off the line repeatedly as security guards scrambled to prevent fans from shaking the wires to the basket. Ernst shot, and missed, but came back in overtime to team with Johnny Egan in scoring all 15 of the Friars’ points in the win. PROVIDENCE 62 - ST. LOUIS 59 NIT For the third year in a row, Providence Mar. faced St. Louis in the NIT, this time for 25 1961 the Championship. Drained from their emotional win over Holy Cross, the Friars struggled and trailed by seven with 10 minutes left in the game. But sophomore George Zalucki, who played the best game of his career (18 points and 10 rebounds), rallied the Friars with key free throws. Jim Hadnot iced the game with free throws and the Friars had their first National Championship. PROVIDENCE 84 at DAYTON 72 The Friars had struggled early in the Jan. year, and continued to struggle in the 31 1963 first half against Dayton, falling behind by six at intermission. The coaches left the players to themselves at halftime where seniors Ray Flynn and Vinnie Ernst gave fiery speeches which propelled PC to a win that night and in the next 15 games, capturing their second NIT Championship in the process. PROVIDENCE 106 - MIAMI 96 NIT Miami had defeated the Friars in Alumni . r a M 19 Hall earlier in the year and Ray Flynn 1963 wanted revenge. His 38 points proved the better of the great Rick Barry’s efforts and the Friars moved on but not without some theatrics. PC watched a 19 point lead dwindle to four with 1:30 left when Barry fouled Flynn. Barry slammed the ball to the floor, got a technical, and Flynn hit three free throws to ice the game. PROVIDENCE 81 - ST. JOSEPH’S 73 (OT) NCAA St. Joseph’s entered the NCAA Eastern Mar. Regional 26-1 and ranked third national12 1965 ly. The Friars were 23-1 and ranked fourth. Down 59-53 with a minute left, the Friars and Jimmy Walker staged a furious rally, forcing overtime. Walker and Jim Benedict scored 14 of the team’s 20 points in the extra session enabling PC to reach the regional final and a date with Bill Bradley and Princeton. PROVIDENCE 91 - BOSTON COLLEGE 86 Holiday Festival Dec. 30 Holy Cross and NBA legend Bob Cousy 1965 had Boston College on the threshold of greatness in New England basketball and a chance to take the top spot from PC. Although the Eagles had the height advantage and used
seven different players to guard Jimmy Walker, Walker was on his way to 50 points, tying Oscar Robertson’s Madison Square Garden record in the process, and PC had its first Holiday Festival title. PROVIDENCE 73 - MASSACHUSETTS 72 Led by the incomparable Julius Erving, Jan. Massachusetts came into the game 23 11-0 and ranked first in New England. 1971 Sophomore Ernie DiGregorio killed 45 seconds of the game with a dribbling exhibition before hitting the last of his 33 points with forty seconds left. Doctor J, held in check all night by 5’11 Donnie Lewis, missed a finger roll with seconds left and PC was Number One again. PROVIDENCE 70 at SO. CALIFORNIA 66 A national television audience got their Jan. first glimpse of Ernie DiGregorio and 26 1972 Marvin Barnes as they helped Providence to a 15-point lead with eight minutes left in an intersectional game with ninthranked Southern Cal. Paul Westphal and the Trojans cut the lead to two with a minute left before Fran Costello and Marvin Barnes hit a pair of free throws each in the upset.
Ray Flynn scores against Miami’s Rick Barry in the March 19, 1963 NIT game.
PROVIDENCE 90 at JACKSONVILLE 76 Trailing 63-61 to the much taller, secMar. ond-ranked Jacksonville Dolphins, the 6 Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes-led 1972 Friars went on a 15-0 run that put the game out of reach before a shocked hometown crowd in Jacksonville. The win gave the Friars another 20-win season and a trip to the NCAA’s. PROVIDENCE 103 - MARYLAND 89 NCAA Fourteen years to the day after PC had Mar. 17 defeated pre-NIT Tournament favorite 1973 St. Louis, the Friars squared off against Maryland, ‘The UCLA of the East’ and an NCAA tournament favorite with UCLA. Ernie DiGregorio scorched the Terps for 30 points and despite fouling out, saw Kevin Stacom and Marvin Barnes hold the fourth-ranked favorites at bay. The Friars had defeated the ACC’s best and had earned their first trip to the Final Four. PROVIDENCE 85 - MEMPHIS STATE 98 NCAA Semifinal Mar. Legendary CCNY coach Nat Holman 24 called the Friars’ start the best eight 1973 minutes of team basketball he’d ever seen. Ernie DiGregorio had thrown some miracle passes, Kevin Stacom hit a couple of long jumpers, and Marvin Barnes was dominating inside. Disaster struck when Barnes hurt his knee coming down with a rebound, and despite Ernie D’s valiant effort, Memphis State came back to win and end PC’s chance for a showdown with UCLA for the National Championship.