PC Men’s Basketball Drops Big East Opener in 2OTs

PC Men’s Basketball Drops Big East Opener in 2OTs

The Providence College men's basketball team was defeated by the Butler University Bulldogs (8-2, 1-0 Big East), 113-110, on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

It was the Big East opener for both teams.  With the loss, Providence falls to 7-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

PC’s  Jason Edwards led all scorers with 32 points, and Jaylin Sellers added 26 points.  

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FIRST HALF: 

• Butler opened the game with seven unanswered points (17:17).  

• Duncan Powell stopped the Bulldogs' scoring run with a driving layup in the paint. Powell sank a three-pointer and scored a reverse layup in the paint on the ensuing two offensive possessions to cut the Butler lead to 9-7 (15:38).    

• Jaylin Sellers (Columbus, Ga.) and Floyd sank back-to-back threes that gave the Friars a 23-20 lead (9:16). 

• As the teams traded baskets, Jason Edwards (Atlanta, Ga.) scored five straight points for the Friars. Powell sank a free throw that gave the Friars a 31-29 advantage (7:07).  

• Both teams ' offensive momentum slowed the defensive intensity picked up. Floyd made a layup off a second-chance opportunity and gave the Friars a 35-33 lead before the under-four media timeout (3:44).  

• Sellers knocked down his second three of the day and followed with a mid-range jumper that gave the Friars their largest lead of the first half at 40-35 (1:48).  

• Edwards sank a second-chance floater before the buzzer as Providence led 45-41 after 20 minutes.  

• Providence shot 17-34 (50.0%) from the field, 6-16 (37.5%) from three, and 5-7 (71.4%) from the free-throw line.   

• Butler shot 12-29 (44.8%) from the field, 3-11 (27.3%) from three, and 12-14 (85.7%) from the free-throw line.    

• Sellers led the Friars in the first half with 10 points, with two made threes. 

• Evan Haywood led all scorers for Butler with 11 points on 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc.  

• Edwards chipped in with nine points in the half for the Friars.  

• This is the fourth consecutive game that the Friars shot over 50% from the field in the first half.  

• The Friars registered 24 bench points to the Bulldogs 11 in the first half.  

• Providence outrebounded Butler by a margin of 19-17 in the opening 20 minutes.  

 

SECOND HALF: 

• Sellers opened the second half with a transition layup. As the teams traded baskets, Ryan Mela made a pair of free throws and gave the Friars a 49-45 lead (17:52).  

• Stefan Vaaks (Tabasalu, Estonia) sank his first three-pointer of the day from the right wing as the Friars led by four. Edwards made a three on the next trip down the floor that gave Providence a 55-48 lead at the under-16 media timeout (15:40).  

• As the teams traded baskets, Edwards sank his third three-pointer of the game and followed with a layup. Providence led 60-53 (14:08).  

• Butler found a rhythm on offense, scoring on four straight possessions and tying the game at 62. Sellers sank his third three-pointer of the game and gave the Friars a 65-62 lead at the under-12 media timeout (10:43).  

• The Bulldogs converted an and-one opportunity and regained the lead at 67-65. Edwards made a three-pointer the next possession that put the Friars up by one. Edwards then sank a pair of free throws as the Friars led 70-69 (8:12).  

• Powell finished a layup through contact and gave the Friars a one-point lead. As the teams traded baskets, the Bulldogs made a three and took a 79-76 lead (4:02).  

• Sellers sank his fourth three of the day to tie the game at 79 at the under-four media timeout (3:24). 

• Out of the timeout, Jones slammed an emphatic dunk in transition and gave the Friars a two-point lead. The bulldogs responded with a and-one and regained the lead at 84-83 (2:00).  

• Oswin Erhunmnwunse (Benin, Nigeria) slammed a put-back dunk that put the friars up by one. Butler responded with a dunk and regained the lead at 86-85 (1:26). 

• Butler sank a three-pointer with 39 seconds remaining and took a two-point lead. With 19 seconds to play in regulation, Sellers made a pair of free throws and tied the game at 89.  

• With the score tied at 89, Butler missed a three at the end of regulation as the Friars forced overtime.  

 

OVERTIME:  

• Vaaks scored a layup in the first possession in the extra period of play. Butler responded with a bucket in the paint to tie the score back up at 91 (4:29).  

• Erhunmwunse slammed a putback dunk to put the Friars back up two. Butler responded with a three-pointer and took a 94-93 lead (2:55).  

• Edwards made back-to-back threes and gave the Friars a 99-98 lead (1:03).  

• The teams traded free throws and on consecutive possessions as tied the game at 100 (0:15).  

• Providence stopped Butler at the buzzer and forced double overtime.  

 

DOUBLE OVERTIME: 

• Erhunmwunse made a layup in the paint to start the second overtime (4:43).  

• Jones slammed a driving dunk and gave the Friars a three-point lead. Butler converted a second chance layup as the Friars led 104-103 (3:47).  

• Vaaks made a layup as the Friars took back a one-point lead. As the teams traded baskets, Sellers made a layup that gave the Friars a 108-107 lead (2:12).  

• Edwards made a floater in the lane. Butler responded with a three and tied the game at 110 (1:22).  

• Butler made a second-chance three-pointer and took a three-point lead with 35 seconds remaining.  

• With 22 seconds remaining, Vaaks missed a potential three-pointer to tie the game. Butler missed a pair of free throws, giving the Friars one last look. Sellers missed a three-pointer as Butler led 113-110 at the end of regulation.  

 

DATA: 

• Providence shot 41-86 (47.7%) from the field, 14-37 (37.8%) from three, and 14-18 (77.8%) from the free-throw line.   

• Butler shot 38-81 (46.9%) from the field, 10-28 (35.7%) from three, and 27-38 (71.1%) from the free-throw line.     

• The Friars finished with five players in double figures: Edwards (32), Sellers (26), Jones (11) Vaaks (10) and Powell (10). 

• Jason Edwards led all scorers with 32 points, marking a season high in scoring. It also marked the first time a Providence player scored over 20 points since Feb. 17, 2024 when Devin Carter scored 31 versus DePaul.  

• Jaylin Sellers tied a season high in scoring with 26 points. 

• Michael Ajayi led Butler 28 points. Finley Bizjack added 28 points for the Bulldogs.  

• The Friars have lost the last three games at Butler by a combined seven points.  

• The last time the Friars played a double overtime game was on Feb. 23, 2023, when the Friars beat No. 18/19 Creighton at home (94-86).  

• This game marked Providence's highest scoring game of all time with 223 combined points. The previous record was set Nov. 25, 1991, versus Chaminade.  

• The Friars have registered a 20-9 mark all-time versus Butler  

• The Friars are 7-6 all-time at Hinkle Fieldhouse. 

 

NEXT: 

The Friars will return to Providence to host Seton Hall University in its Big East home opener. The game will take place on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on FS1.