PC’s Brian McKenzie goes up for a shot while he is closely guarded by UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet in the first half of last night’s game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

PROVIDENCE — After a season filled with near-miss critical wins, the Providence College Friars finally celebrated last night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The last time Friars fans saw their team, they left with frustration rippling through their bones after tough losses to Big East leaders Louisville and Georgetown. Last night, it was No. 13 Connecticut’s turn, but the Friars refused to fold and ran away with an impressive 85-76 upset win that brought the student section onto the floor en masse for the first time this season.

“It’s satisfying, but we can’t really celebrate. We have to win a lot of games to get to the tournament,” said Friars forward-turned-point guard Geoff McDermott.

McDermott was not speaking of the Big East tourney, which begins next week in New York City. Last night’s win doesn’t clinch a spot for PC (15-14, 6-11), but it does set up a scenario in which the Friars would lock up a trip with a win over Villanova tomorrow night.

McDermott and his teammates haven’t forgotten their only goal: a spot in the NCAA Tournament. That may sound like folly, but after winning for the second straight time for the first time since early January, the Friars finally own a bit of confidence.

“We have a renewed energy, a renewed focus,” said PC coach Tim Welsh. “We were kind of treading [water] for a long time, and if you’re not playing well in this league, you’re going to get clipped. You have to find your way out of it and we did that last week on the road at Cincinnati. Tonight we really fought.”

For the second game this season, the Friars confounded Connecticut with its zone defense. UConn (23-7, 12-5) shot 40 percent and turned the ball over a season-high 21 times and would’ve been beaten badly if it didn’t parade to the foul line (15 of 18) in the second half. The victory gave Providence its first season sweep of UConn since 1989.

“Obviously they handled us for the second time this season. I don’t find it different,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “The shot selection — never mind the percentage — was abysmal. It was the most selfish performance by us in probably 14 games.”

On the other end of the floor, Providence’s offense clicked for the second straight game since Welsh installed the burly McDermott at point guard. McDermott finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 5 assists. Weyinmi Efejuku (25 points) and Jeff Xavier (21) exploded on the wings for huge games against UConn defenders who seemed a step behind all night.

“It was very disappointing that we couldn’t defend. Not to defend a bit,” Calhoun said. “Memphis couldn’t score 85 against us. Indiana couldn’t score 85, and neither could Geogretown, Louisville or any of those teams. Providence found it easy to do that, and I give them all the credit.”

PC controlled the tempo early, but a strong rush led by Jeff Adrien (13 points) and A.J. Price (11) and some dominating defense from 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet (16 points, 13 boards, 6 blocks) sparked UConn to a 33-32 halftime lead. The Friars missed 9 of their 12 3-point shots in the first half, but that spark returned in the second half.

Threes by Xavier and Efejuku led a comeback that tied the game at 46-46 with 11:07 left.

PC took a 50-48 lead with a McDermott jumper and went up by six after a Jon Kale hoop and another Xavier 3-pointer.

Connecticut hung tough, though mainly by getting to the foul line; it shot just 33 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes.

PC clung to a 64-61 lead with 2:45 left, but Brian McKenzie answered with a huge 3-pointer, and when a Price turnover led to a Xavier outlet pass to Efejuku for a monster jam, the Friars were in firm control, 73-64, with 1:44 to play.

kmcnamar@projo.com