Butler heads into the holiday break with a win, knocking off Providence, 70-64, Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures, but the line of the night belonged to freshman Myles Tate, who led the team with eight rebounds and seven assists (both career-highs) to go along with eight points.
 
"Obviously in a game against Providence, you know it's going to be physical," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "I thought we were really connected and together, helping each other through mistakes. Myles Tate did a great job organizing our office and Bryce Golden anchored our defense with his voice. We put some of the conversations we've been having into action. We can build on that."
 
Freshman JaKobe Coles led the Bulldogs with a career-best 14 points in 14 minutes of action. He went 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Jair Bolden and Golden each had 11 points, while Chuck Harris and Bryce Nze added 10.
 
Butler played its third straight game without senior point guard Aaron Thompson, who continues to rehab a sprained knee. The young Bulldogs are now 2-3 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play on the young season. PC is 5-3 and also 1-1 in conference action.
 
Harris's three-pointer in the waning seconds of the first half gave Butler a 31-30 halftime advantage after Providence had led for nearly 13 minutes. Butler would carry that momentum into the second half. A 10-2 run turned a tied game at 39-39 into a 49-41 Butler advantage with 10:56 remaining. Butler would not allow the Friars to get closer than four points the rest of the way. While fighting some foul trouble among its perimeter players, Jordan utilized a zone defense for stretches throughout the second half, with 6-9 Myles Wilmoth at the top.
 
Thirty-eight of Butler's points came in the paint and the Bulldogs had a 37-32 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs shot 46 percent from the field, but connected on only five three-pointers and 13-of-23 at the free throw line.
 
The defensive effort by the Bulldogs won the game, as Providence was limited to 41-percent shooting, including a 4-of-26 performance from behind the arc. Nate Watson and David Duke led the Friars with 19 and 17 points, respectively.
 
The two teams meet a week from tonight in Rhode Island in what will be the Bulldogs' next game.