Men's Basketball Vies for Puerto Rico Tip-Off Title Tonight on ESPN2

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.