NEWS

Davidson Wildcats photo by Dani Gariglio.

‘Cats Defeat Providence 69-58 on Day 2 in Bahamas

ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Connor Kochera scored a game-high 22 points, Bobby Durkin had 20, and Reed Bailey added a double-double as Davidson bounced back with an impressive 69-58 win over Providence on day two of the Battle 4 Atlantis inside Imperial Arena.

The Wildcats improve to 5-1 overall and will face No. 3 Gonzaga in tomorrow’s 5th place game at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

It was Kochera’s second straight 20-point outing and third of the season, as the fifth-year senior finished 7-of-10 from the floor and 8-of-11 at the stripe.

Bailey stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for his fourth career double-double.

For the second straight night, Davidson got off to a fast start, this time scoring the first nine points before stretching the advantage to 38-18 at the break thanks to a Mike Loughnane trey with just under a minute to play in the half.

In addition to Durkin, Kochera and Bailey each hitting double figures in the opening 20 minutes, the Wildcats held Providence to just 5-of-28 (.179) in the period.

Davidson, which pushed its lead to as many as 22 on several occasions, shot 47 percent overall, while holding the Friars to a season-low 31 percent.

The Wildcats committed just eight turnovers, connected on 17-of-21 free throws and outscored the Friars 32-20 in the paint.

Jayden Pierre paced Providence (5-2) with 14 points.

Drop Games to No. 24 Arizona and No. 3 Gonzaga

ARIZONA GAME: Behind a 56.5 percent effort from the floor and lengthy second-half run, No. 24 Arizona defeated Davidson, 104-71, on the opening day of Battle 4 Atlantis inside Imperial Arena Wednesday night.

The ‘Cats, who will face Providence tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2, suffer their first loss of the season falling to 4-1.

Despite a fast start for Davidson, which led by seven on two separate occasions in the opening minutes, Arizona (3-2) grabbed control with an 18-4 run to go in front for good.

Connor Kochera had 20 points and Bobby Durkin added 15 to lead the way for the ‘Cats, who finished shooting just 38 percent, but drilled 11 3-pointers.

After Arizona pushed the margin to 17 with 14:22 to play, the ‘Cats reeled off 11 unanswered highlighted by treys from Zach Laput, Roberts Blums and Durkin to cut the deficit to 68-62.

Zona answered Davidson’s flurry with another lengthy streak to put the game out of reach.

Anthony Dell’Orso and Caleb Love led five Arizona players in double figures with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

In addition to outscoring the Wildcats 50-28 in the paint, Arizona held a 47-31 advantage on the glass, while finishing 11-of-22 from deep.

GONZAGA GAME: Playing its second nationally-ranked opponent in three nights, Davidson concluded the Battle 4 Atlantis with a 90-65 setback to No. 3 Gonzaga Friday night inside Imperial Arena.

The Wildcats, who fell to No. 24 Arizona on day one, then knocked off Providence (RV) Thursday, slide to 5-2 on the season.

Reed Bailey and Roberts Blums were the lone Davidson players to hit the 10-point plateau with 19 and 11, respectively.

After a Zach Laput trey got the ‘Cats within two, 20-18, Gonzaga (7-1) started to separate with a 16-3 spurt before going to the half up, 42-31.

The Bulldogs scored the first nine points of the second half to push the margin to 51-31 all but putting the game out of reach.

In addition to shooting 55 percent, the Zags outscored Davidson 58-24 in the paint.

Gonzaga placed four in double figures, led by Ben Gregg’s 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Graham Ike added a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards, while Ryan Nembhard finished with a career-high 14 assists.

Up Next
Davidson returns home Friday, Dec. 6 for a 7 p.m. tip against Charleston Southern.