NCAA Game Summary - Marquette at Providence

Providence, RI (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Cotton poured in a team-high 25 points, including the game-winning free throws with 7.2 seconds left in the second overtime, as the Providence Friars outlasted the Marquette Golden Eagles, 81-80, in Big East Conference action at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Cotton added nine assists and seven rebounds as Providence (20-10, 10-7 Big East) earned its first 20-win season since the 2003-04 campaign. LaDontae Henton tallied a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Josh Fortune and Kadeem Batts put up 15 and 12 points, respectively, as the Friars won their third straight game.

For Marquette (17-13, 9-8), Todd Mayo came off the bench to registered career highs in both points (26) and rebounds (11). Davante Gardner (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Jamil Wilson (11, 14) also had double-doubles, while Deonte Burton netted 10.

Providence shot 44 percent from the field in the first half, slightly better than Marquette's 40.7 percent showing, as it took a 29-27 lead into the break.

The Friars extended their advantage to 11 with under nine minutes to play before the Golden Eagles used a 15-3 run to take a one-point lead with 1:46 left on a Mayo 3-pointer. After Providence regained the lead with 24 seconds left on a Fortune three-point play, Mayo knocked down three free throws in the final 19 seconds to tie the game. Cotton missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the contest went to overtime.

Marquette took a 71-70 lead with 29 seconds to play in the first overtime on a Mayo 3-pointer. Carson Desrosiers drew a foul with 12 seconds left, and after tying the game with a 1-of-2 trip to the line, another five-minute period was queued up.

Trailing by three with 10 seconds to play in the second extra session, Henton made a layup to bring the Friars to within one. After a turnover by the Golden Eagles, Cotton drew a foul and drained the two clutch free throws to go ahead. Mayo had a chance to win it at the buzzer for Marquette but his jumper did not fall.

Providence held on despite its bench getting outscored by Marquette's, 57-3.