Providence, RI (My Sportsbook) - Sharaud Curry led the way with a season-high 22 points and four assists as the Providence Friars upended the struggling 15th-ranked Syracuse Orange, 100-94, in a Big East showdown at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Curry connected on 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc while Marshon Brooks went 4-of-6 from long distance en route to 17 points for Providence (14-6, 6-2 Big East), which has rebounded from a two-game slide by winning each of its past three outings.
Geoff McDermott and Jonathan Kale contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively, as the Friars had six players in double figures. Randall Hanke and Weyinmi Efejuku had 12 points each in the win.
Jonny Flynn logged a career-high 35 points and a game-high six assists, connecting on 12-of-22 field goals including 4-of-9 from three-point range.
Eric Devendorf found twine on 6-of-13 from long distance in totaling 27 points for the Orange (17-5, 5-4), who after winning 16 of their first 17 games, have dropped three straight and four of five outings.
All three setbacks during the recent stretch had come against Top-25 teams and by double figures, before Wednesday's loss in which Syracuse committed 21 turnovers.
Rick Jackson had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Paul Harris collected eight points, six boards, two blocks and three steals in the setback.
Jackson opened the second half with a pair of baskets for the Orange but Providence went on to score 16 of the next 19 points to take a 63-51 advantage. Curry tallied seven points on the surge, which was interrupted by a Devendorf three-ball.
A three-point play by Jackson moved Syracuse back within six but the Friars extended their lead back to double digits, 79-65, on back-to-back layups by McDermott and Kale -- and moments later on consecutive three-pointers from Curry and Brooks, leaving 8:23 to play.
Providence continued to hold onto its double-digit lead until a Devendorf three-pointer sparked a 10-3 run. Devendorf finished what he started, connecting from long range to make it a five-point game, 89-84, with nearly two minutes remaining.
The Friars turned to the free throw line to seal the game, hitting 11-of-18 from there to secure an important Big East win despite the best efforts of Flynn and Devendorf.
A Flynn jumper just past the midway point of the opening 20 minutes started an 8-2 spurt for the Orange with Harris' dunk capping it off for a 29-23 lead with a little more than seven minutes on the clock.
The Friars got back within one on a Efejuku jumper and subsequent three- pointer and pulled ahead 39-37 on a Curry layup, capping a run of seven straight points.
The teams finished the half tied at 44-all following Brooks' long-range bucket just before halftime.
Game Notes
The all-time series between Providence and Syracuse has been dominated by the Orange, 41-10, but their three-game win streak against the Friars came to an end Wednesday...Syracuse fell to 3-3 on the road this season and has dropped three straight as the visitor...Providence improved to 11-2 at home...The Friars shot 53.7 percent from the field while Syracuse hit on a 50.8 percent clip...The Orange were 12-of-25 from three-point range while Providence went 10-of-26.
