Providence 75, Notre Dame 74

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Forward LaDontae Henton scored a game-high 38 points, including the decisive free throws, leading Providence to a 75-74 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday in the Naismith Bracket final of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Casino Arena.

Guard Jerian Grant’s drive and free throw gave the Irish a 74-73 lead with 26.3 seconds remaining. Henton hit two free throws to make it 75-74 Friars with 14.8 seconds left.

Notre Dame had two looks at the end but couldn’t convert.

Grant scored 20 to lead the Irish (4-1), and forward Zach Auguste added 15 points. Forward Tyler Harris had 17 points for Providence (5-0).

Notre Dame led by eight with 5:22 left before an 8-0 Providence run tied it at 66 with 3:29 remaining.

The second half featured multiple momentum swings.

Guard Pat Connaughton’s 3-pointer to beat the shot clock put the Irish up by three. Providence then ran off seven straight to go up by four. A 3-pointer from forward Steve Vasturia and then two Grant free throws made it 57-56 Irish with 8:20 left.

Another Vasturia 3-pointer, part of a 14-2 Notre Dame run, pushed the Irish’s lead to six with 6:16 left.

Both teams shot effectively, with Providence hitting 56 percent of its shots from the floor and Notre Dame making 50 percent.

Notre Dame trailed at halftime for the first time this season, 39-35, because it couldn’t do something it struggled to do all last season — guard from the perimeter. Providence shredded the Notre Dame man and zone defensive looks for five first-half 3-pointers, including three from Henton. He led all scorers at the break with 18.

Providence was so dependent on long-range shooting late in the half that the Friars managed only one non-3 basket the final nine-plus minutes.

Friars guard Jalen Lindsey connected on an early 3-pointer, but he sprained his ankle landing on an Irish defender’s foot and never returned.

Notre Dame led by as many as six, in part because it was better with the ball early than the previous day against Massachusetts, when it committed a season-high 17 turnovers. The Irish had only five turnovers in the first half.

NOTE: Providence swept through the Tip-Off Tournament, defeating beating Binghamton, Navy, Florida State and Notre Dame. The Irish topped Binghamton, Navy and Massachusetts to reach the Tip-Off Tournament finale. … The Friars return to action Friday with a home game against Yale. … The Irish play host to Grambling on Wednesday.