Providence outlasts Charlotte Latin Monday at Urban Builders Invitational

The Providence basketball team has been in a lot of close games this season. The Panthers have been tied or held the lead with less than a minute to go in seven of their 12 contests.

Providence (3-9) had lost all put one of those games coming into their Monday afternoon game with Charlotte Latin (4-7). This time, however, the Panthers found a way to come out on top as junior forward, Drake Deluliis put back a Mersaun Shabazz miss just before time expired to give Providence a 62-60 win in the opening game of the Urban Builders’ Invitational at Latin.

Providence made most of the key plays down the stretch as they went on a 9-2 run late in the fourth quarter to turn a 55-51 deficit with just 3:30 remaining into a 60-57 lead with 41 seconds to play.

But Charlotte Latin junior, Bates Jones, who led his team with 16 points on the night, hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 60 with just 5.3 seconds left, setting up the dramatic ending.

Providence made their comeback from seven down in the fourth quarter, outscoring Latin 23-14 in the game’s final eight minutes with a balanced attack. The Panthers were led by Luiz Machado, Jr., who had 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Shabazz (15 points) and Grady Moore (11 points) also made big plays down the stretch.

Charlotte Latin was led by Jones (16 points, eight rebounds), and senior Parker Julian, who had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Quote: “I’m really excited for our guys. They have put a lot of effort all season and lost several close games. In a lot of our games, it comes down to one possession, one shot, one turnover, one rebound that is the difference between winning and losing. It felt great to close this one out with a win. It gives our guys confidence that they can win these close games.” – Scott Taylor, Providence basketball coach.

Records: Providence moves to 3-9 overall and is 1-3 in SoMeck8 conference play; Charlotte Latin is 4-7 overall.

Worth mentioning: Deluliis missed most of the game with foul trouble, and had only four points on the night, but came up with the game-winning basket; Charlotte Latin and Providence are only 2.2 miles apart, but the public-private rivalry doesn’t happen more (outside of tournament play) because Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools cannot play private schools in regular games.

What's Next: Providence plays Durham Academy at 2:30 in the winner’s bracket of the Urban Building Group Invitational, while Charlotte Latin hosts Harding in the same event at 1:30.

Roundup

Myers Park 70, Charlotte Country Day 66: JJ Schacht had 14 points and Isaac Suffren added 10 in a close win over a private school. Myers Park’s Davrion Grier had a career-high 21 points for the Mustangs, who led 40-29 at halftime. Gordon Cory had 19 points for Country Day. Myers Park and Country Day’s football teams played for the first time. Myers Park won 19-14.

Ardrey Kell 54, East Meck 53: Anthony Turnbow hit three free throws in the final minutes to help the Knights win. Khdir Brinkley had a career-high 15 points. Wes Morgan had 1 points for the Knights. East Meck got 14 points from Charvis Jones and 12 from Tireq Morrow.

Durham Academy 62, Harding 44: Jordan Lewis had 22 points and Charlie Mendys added 13 for Durham, which held Harding to three points in the second quarter. Yakim Jenkins had 15 points for Harding.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 9:46 PM with the headline "Providence outlasts Charlotte Latin Monday at Urban Builders Invitational."