The Greatest Games in History PROVIDENCE 32 at ST. JOHN’S 30 Dec. 18, 1928 Providence College scored its first major triumph, defeating St. John’s and its “Wonder Five” which lost just four games in four years (two to PC). Led by All-American 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 Jan. 16, 1942 After dominating New England college basketball during the thirties, Providence College saw its program 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) Feb. 14, 1956 With a new coach (Joe Mullaney) and a new gym (Alumni Hall), Providence was 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) Jan. 24, 1959 For the first time, Providence fans were able to follow their team on radio and the Friars made the most of the opportunity, defeating nationallyranked 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 Mar. 17, 1959 After defeating Manhattan in the first round of the NIT, the Friars found themselves up against pretournament 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 Jan. 23, 1960 Almost one year after the stunning upset of Villanova, the Friars returned to the Palestra to face nationally 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) Feb. 9, 1960 Providence traveled to the Olean Armory where the balconies hung over the court and the Bonnies had a 91-game winning 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
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seconds left to keep the streak alive. PROVIDENCE 90 - HOLY CROSS 83 (OT) NIT Mar. 23, 1961 No time remained on the clock when Vinnie Ernst stepped to the free throw line of the NIT semifinal with the score 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 Mar. 25, 1961 For the third year in a row, Providence faced St. Louis in the NIT, this time for 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 Jan. 31, 1963 The Friars had struggled early in the year, and continued to struggle in the 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.
Ray Flynn scores against Miami’s Rick Barry in the March 19, 1963 NIT game.
PROVIDENCE 106 - MIAMI 96 NIT Mar. 19, 1963 Miami had defeated the Friars in Alumni Hall earlier in the year and Ray Flynn 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 Mar. 12, 1965 St. Joseph’s entered the NCAA Eastern Regional 26-1 and ranked third nationally. 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, 1965
Holy Cross and NBA legend Bob Cousy 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 Jan. 23, 1971 Led by the incomparable Julius Erving, Massachusetts came into the game 11-0 and ranked first in New England. 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 Jan. 26, 1972 A national television audience got their first glimpse of Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes as they helped Providence to a 15-point lead with eight minutes left in an intersectional game with ninth-ranked 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. PROVIDENCE 90 at JACKSONVILLE 76 Mar. 6, 1972 Trailing 63-61 to the much taller, second-ranked Jacksonville Dolphins, the Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes-led 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 Mar. 17, 1972 Fourteen years to the day after PC had defeated pre-NIT Tournament favorite 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. 24, 1973 Legendary CCNY coach Nat Holman called the Friars’ start the best eight 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. PROVIDENCE 91 - CLEMSON 86 NIT Mar. 15, 1975 Pre-tournament favorite Clemson had seven-footer Tree Rollins and four minutes of basketball when they held the younger Friars scoreless in the NIT. But behind the sharpshooting of Joey Hassett,