Providence Friars vs Butler Bulldogs Box Score on Dec 23, 2020

Five players scored in double-figures Wednesday night and Butler clamped down on Providence from the 3-point line as it stopped a three-game losing streak with a 70-64 Big East Conference win in Indianapolis.

JaKobe Coles came off the bench to pace the Bulldogs (2-3, 1-1) with 14 points on just five field goal attempts, canning 6 of 7 at the foul line. Jair Bolden and Bryce Golden each scored 11, while Bryce Nze and Chuck Harris tallied 10 points apiece.

The 1-2 punch of Nate Watson and David Duke again carried the load for the Friars (5-3, 1-1). Watson led all scorers with 19 and Duke hit for 17, although he made just 6 of 16 shots from the field. They got little help from their teammates.

Providence converted just 41.3 percent of its field goal tries, including a miserable 4 of 26 on 3-pointers, and was outrebounded 37-32. Butler sank 45.6 percent from the field and committed only 10 turnovers despite the absence of point guard Aaron Thompson, missing a third straight game with a knee injury.

The Bulldogs started the second half with an 8-2 burst, taking a 39-32 lead on Harris' layup, and held that lead for the night's remainder.

Coming off a 76-73 loss Monday night to Southern Illinois that snapped the nation's longest nonconference home winning streak at 59 games, dating back to 2012, Butler was ready to play.

The Bulldogs were much tougher on the defensive end, forcing tougher shots from Providence than they did for much of their previous three games. Opponents made 50 percent or better in each game and Butler entered the night allowing 51 percent from the field.

Still, the Friars were able to grab a lead about seven minutes into the first half on Duke's 3-point play. They expanded the advantage to seven later in the half before the Bulldogs made their move. Harris closed the half with a 3-pointer nine seconds before the buzzer, giving them a 31-30 edge.

--Field Level Media