PROVIDENCE, R.I. -For the third time in four games, the Georgetown men’s basketball team lost a game by halftime. On onday it was a 17-point lead that the Hoyas had to overcome after 20 minutes, and even though they improved in the second half, it was no use; they lost 65-50.

“We just had a couple of mental lapses throughout the game,” sophomore point guard Ashanti Cook said. “And we just got down . I think our whole problem is that we don’t put two halves together.”

Against No. 1 Duke Saturday and then-No. 1 Connecticut on Jan. 14, Georgetown did not have much of a chance to come back from 24- and 26-point respective halftime deficits as they were clearly over-matched. On Monday, it was a combination of Providence’s confusing 2-3 zone and Georgetown’s inability to make shots that did in the Hoyas.

“We’re not good at recovering off of mental mistakes right now,” sophomore forward Brandon Bowman said.

A key to the Friars’ success was their depth – something the Hoyas are desperately lacking. Providence leading scorer junior forward Ryan Gomes, who had a double-double in Providence’s Saturday upset over No. 8 Connecticut, scored just eight points. But the Friars’ scoring load shifted seamlessly to their guards, who turned in an excellent shooting performance.

“[Georgetown’s] defense was good. They turned us over and made it hard for Ryan to score, but we took advantage of some other things,” Providence Head Coach Tim Welsh said. “We let our guards do some work out there.”

Sophomore Donnie McGrath had 18, senior Sheiku Kabba scored 15 and freshman Dwight Brewington had 12 points. They made two three-pointers each, as Providence was 8-of-15 from beyond the arc.

“I thought we did a real good job on Gomes,” Esherick said. “But the guards and the perimeter people hurt us, and that was the ballgame.”

The Hoyas shot 28 percent in the first half, and no one but senior guard Gerald Riley ever got going in the game. Riley, who entered the game shooting 41 percent and was in somewhat of a slump, was the bright spot for the Hoyas, leading all scores with 22.

Georgetown was able to get the occasional open look against the zone, but the team could not convert.

Junior swingman Darrel Owens, sophomore guard Ashanti Cook and senior center Courtland Freeman combined to go 1-for-11 in the first half (4-for-15 in the game), and Riley and Bowman were the only ones to score more than one field goal in the period.

“I was just ice cold today,” Owens said.

Georgetown did not help itself by getting only three offensive rebounds in the first half, gravely limiting their second chances.

“I thought of all the games we’ve played lately, we really showed some patience in terms of shot selection,” Esherick said. “But Providence’s defense caused some turnovers that we normally don’t make, and that dug us a hole that we couldn’t get out of.”

In the first half, Georgetown turned the ball over 11 times, and Providence scored 15 of its 35 points off turnovers.

Freeman attended the funeral of his uncle immediately after the Duke game Saturday. He flew to Charleston, S.C., and was delayed by snowy weather on his way back, getting into Providence at about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Esherick said. Freeman ended up with five turnovers (four in the first half) and four points.

“I’m not sure I shouldn’t have just started somebody else to let Courtland get a feel for the game after that,” Esherick said.

Esherick said he asked Freeman about it at halftime, and Freeman said he still wanted to play.

With Freeman in foul trouble, Esherick turned to his bench, giving senior forward Omari Faulkner and freshman forward Sead Dizdarevic eight and 13 minutes, respectively.

Georgetown goes on the road for its next game to face Miami on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.