:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58598413/usa_today_9814585.0.jpg)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, RI
TV: FS1
RADIO: WNEW 99.1 FM (Georgetown), 103.7 FM (Providence)
ONLINE: FoxSportsGO
LINE: Providence -7.5 (MyBookie)
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown leads, 44-26. Providence defeated Georgetown in both meetings last season.
The Georgetown Hoyas (13-9, 3-8 Big East) will complete their three-game road trip on Tuesday evening when they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Providence Friars (15-8, 6-4 Big East) in a pivotal Big East matchup.
Providence enters the contest just 0.5 games out of third place in the conference after winning their last game against Marquette (13-10, 4-7 Big East). Rodney Bullock leads the Friars in both scoring (15.5 point per game) and rebounding (6.3 rebounds per game), while Alpha Diallo (12.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg) and Kyron Cartwright (11.2 ppg and 6.0 assists per game) provide key contributions. Georgetown, on the other hand, is currently on a three-game losing streak, with its latest loss coming on the road to No. 5 Xavier (21-3, 9-2 Big East), and sit just one game ahead of ninth-place DePaul (9-13, 2-8 Big East). The junior duo of Jessie Govan (16.5 ppg and 10.2 rpg) and Marcus Derrickson (15.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg) spearhead the Hoyas attack.
Both Providence and Georgetown rank in the bottom half of the conference in both field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage. Should the teams continue their shooting struggles, rebounding may play a huge factor. The Hoyas lead the league in rebounding (39.7 rpg) and hold a rebounding advantage of +3.6 over the Friars. What the Friars lack in size they make for in defensive prowess, however, as they average seven steals per game. That doesn’t bode well for Georgetown, which leads the conference is turnovers per game (16.0).
Ultimately, the Hoyas will have to overcome a string of bad luck in Providence, as the they have not won at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center since the 2011-2012 season.
Prediction: Georgetown, 77-72. Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson prove too much for an undersized Providence team, which struggles to shoot the ball.