EAST PROVIDENCE — Trailing from the jump throughout most of the second half to its upset-minded guests from Central, the fifth-seeded and host East Providence High School boys’ basketball team put on a furious rally late to defeat the 12th-seeded Knights 77-72 in the opening round of the 2020 Division I championship tournament Friday night, Feb. 28.

Justin Pena’s rebound put-back of his own miss gave the Townies their first lead of the night, 73-72, with 1 minutes, 10 seconds left in the contest. Brian Taylor, who headed off the court vomiting only minutes before, next sank two clutch free throws to extend E.P.’s advantage. Tyler Lima’s single foul shot sealed the victory with less than a second to go.

The Townies trailed by as many as 18 (43-25) in the opening 16 minutes before going to intermission down 43-32. Central once again extended its lead to a seemingly comfortable and night-high 19 (53-34) four minutes into the second half prior to East Providence’s spirited comeback.

The Townies, who also struggled against the Knights in East Providence on Martin Luther King Jr. Day when E.P. defeated Central 80-73, advance to face fourth-seeded LaSalle Monday night, March 2, in Providence at 7 p.m. The rival Rams handed E.P. its largest defeat of the season, 82-64, when the teams also met in Providence back on January 24.

Last Friday night, the Knights lead grew to double figures (17-7) five minutes into the contest. Central continued to expand its edge as the Townies were cold from the field and couldn’t put any defensive stops together. The Knights’ ad reached 18 on an Angel Santiago corner 3-pointer with 90 seconds remaining before the break. E.P. sliced into its deficit a bit just before heading to the locker room down 11 following a Pina “and-1” layup and foul shot and a Pena bucket.

Taylor, who was the Townies’ most consistent performer all evening, helped spark the E.P. resurgence, scoring twice just after the locals fell behind by 19. Taylor later took ill, left the floor for a moment, then returned to hit the two key free throws late.

The Townies’ revival really hit its stride when Pina, held in check by the Knights up until that moment, found his scoring touch with around eight minutes to go. He hit a step-back triple then side-stepped for a corner 3.

Zach Russell, in foul trouble most of the second half, next came back on the floor and hit a second-chance 3 from the wing after Pina grabbed an offensive rebound. Taylor, prior to becoming ill, then drove for a pair as did Pena, the latter hoop bringing the Townies back to within only a point, 72-71, with 2:12 left.

All the while East Providence’s defensive intensity rose while Central’s faltered after it lost two starters to foul trouble. The Knights also failed to maintain their composure and subsequently the lead. The visitors went scoreless over final three minutes of the contest.

Following one of Central’s many turnovers in the final moments, Pena drove the right side to the basket, came up short on his first layup attempt, but dropped in the second to put E.P. on top for keeps with 70 seconds showing.

Taylor finished with a season and game-best 32 points. Pina had 18 and Pena 16. Santiago led Central with 24.