Men's Basketball Vies for Puerto Rico Tip-Off Title Tonight on ESPN2
Nov. 18, 2007
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The University of Miami men’s basketball team faces former conference-rival Providence in the finals of the inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. (EST) on ESPN2.
Game 4: Providence (2-0) vs. Miami (3-0)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 | Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST) | Site: Coliseo de Puerto Rico
TV: ESPN2 | Radio: 1360 AM | Internet Video: None | Live Stats
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) | Providence (www.friars.com)
Tickets: 866-994-0001
Probable Miami StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast23 James Dews (G, 6-3, 203, So.) 10.3 3.7 1.733 Jack McClinton (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 16.3 3.0 4.732 Brian Asbury (F, 6-7, 223, Jr.) 9.7 3.7 2.000 Jimmy Graham (F, 6-8, 251, Jr.) 4.0 6.0 1.050 Anthony King (C, 6-9, 246, R-Sr.) 10.7 10.0 1.7
Probable Providence StartersNo. Name (Pos/Ht/Wt/Cl) Pts Reb Ast1 Jeff Xavier (G, 6-1, 185, Jr.) 9.5 2.5 1.05 Dwain Williams (G, 6-0, 170, So.) 12.5 2.0 2.511 Geoffrey McDermott (G/F, 6-8, 235, Jr.) 14.0 7.5 3.023 Brian McKenzie (G, 6-4, 205, So.) 15.0 5.0 1.534 Jonathan Kale (F, 6-8, 245, Jr.) 4.5 2.0 0.0
The Hurricanes have gone 2-0 in tournament competition to advance to Sunday’s championship game
versus <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Providence. The Hurricanes defeated Marist, 85-61, in the first round and then knocked off VCU,
69-63, in Friday’s semifinals. Jack McClinton poured in 23 points in Miami’s win over VCU, while
Anthony King posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 15
rebounds. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Series
Friday’s game marks the 29th meeting between the former BIG EAST rivals. Providence leads the all-time
series 15-13, and has won two straight over the Hurricanes, including a 70-57 victory in their last meeting
on Feb. 21, 2004, in Providence. Miami won three straight over the Friars prior to that.
A Look at Providence
Former BIG EAST rival ProvidenceCollege enters Sunday’s championship game versus the Hurricanes
with a 2-0 record after knocking off Temple and No. 18 Arkansas in the first two rounds. Three players
average better than 10 points per game, led by sophomore guard Brian McKenzie with 15.0 points, 5.0
rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. McKenzie scored a career-high 18 points in the win over Arkansas —
including 15 in the second half — and grabbed six steals in a game that saw the Friars force 32
Razorback turnovers. Providence went 18-13 in 2006-07, including an 8-8 mark in BIG EAST play,
advancing to the NIT.
