Vaaks, Sellers Power Friars in Heartbreaking Overtime Loss at Marquette
In one of the most dramatic games of the season, the Providence College men’s basketball team came up just short in a 105-104 overtime loss to Marquette on Monday night at Fiserv Forum. Despite career and season-best performances from freshman Stefan Vaaks and graduate student Jaylin Sellers, the Friars were edged in the final seconds of overtime, falling to 9-10 overall and 2-6 in BIG EAST play.
Vaaks and Sellers combined for 53 points, with Sellers pouring in a season-high 27 and Vaaks adding a career-high 26 in a performance that continued his breakout stretch in conference play. Providence shot an efficient 50 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle convincingly, but turnovers and late free throws ultimately swung the result in Marquette’s favor.
Providence showed early energy, opening the game with an Oswin Erhunmwunse put-back dunk and-one before Vaaks buried a three-pointer to knot the score at five. The Friars kept pace through the opening minutes as Sellers attacked the rim and Corey Floyd Jr. found success with floaters in the paint. Duncan Powell provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down three first-half triples to help Providence stay within striking distance.
Sellers’ physical drives and Erhunmwunse’s activity on the glass kept the Friars competitive, but Marquette closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 54-44 advantage into the break. Providence shot well in the opening 20 minutes — 50 percent from the floor and a perfect 9-for-9 at the line — but Marquette’s 60.6 percent shooting proved difficult to overcome.
The Friars came out of halftime determined, and Vaaks quickly made his presence felt. The freshman connected on multiple three-pointers early in the second half as Providence steadily chipped away at the deficit. His fourth three of the night, followed by a strong finish through contact from Mela, tied the game at 68 with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Momentum swung back and forth over the final stretch of regulation. Vaaks continued his torrid shooting, drilling his fifth and sixth three-pointers of the game, including one that gave Providence its largest lead at 84-79 with 4:24 remaining. Sellers complemented him with clutch free throws and finishes at the rim, while Jamier Jones added key buckets, including a thunderous dunk late in regulation.
With Providence clinging to a 92-88 lead in the closing seconds, Marquette responded with a three-pointer and then drew a foul on another attempt, converting all three free throws to tie the game at 94 with two seconds left. Jones’ half-court heave fell short at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
The extra period mirrored regulation — back-and-forth and relentless. Vaaks opened overtime with a floater, and Erhunmwunse threw down two emphatic dunks off feeds from Vaaks, the latter tying the game at 104 with just over a minute remaining. After a costly turnover, Marquette stepped to the line and converted one free throw with four seconds left. Vaaks’ final three-point attempt rattled out, sealing the narrow defeat.
Providence finished the night with four players in double figures, including Jones (17) and Powell (11). Erhunmwunse delivered a dominant all-around performance with a career-high 15 rebounds and three blocks, helping the Friars outrebound Marquette 42-30. Vaaks’ 26-point effort marked his third consecutive BIG EAST game with 20 or more points, a feat not accomplished by a conference freshman since 2006-07.
Despite the result, Providence showed resilience and fire on the road in a game that came down to the final possession. The Friars will look to build on that effort when they return home to host Georgetown on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. on TNT and truTV.