Former Providence College basketball player Ernie "Pop" Lewis, one of the stars on the Friars team that made a run to the Final Four in 1987, died Wednesday at his home in Philadelphia, family members said.
Lewis was co-captain of the 1987 team, which was coached by Rick Pitino. Lewis, Billy Donovan and Delray Brooks led Providence's magical run that season. The Friars finished 25-9, losing to Syracuse in the national semifinal.
That season was the first that allowed the 3-point shot in college basketball, and the Friars took advantage. The 6-foot-4 Lewis put up 220 shots from behind the arc that season and hit 42 percent of them.