Box Score
Luwane Pipkins led Providence with 22 points as the Friars upset 16^th-ranked Butler, 65-61, Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Pipkins sealed the victory by hitting six free throws over the closing 27 seconds.

With the result, both teams are now 5-4 in BIG EAST play. Butler is 17-5 overall, while Providence improves to 12-10.

Butler, playing without injured starting point guard Aaron Thompson for the third consecutive game, made only one of its 14 attempts from three-point range due to a strong defensive effort by the Friars. Behind Pipkins, the Friars had a 27-1 advantage in bench points.

"We didn't shoot it well, but Providence had a lot to do with that. They made it really tough to get our guys open," said Butler coach LaVall Jordan. "We let Pipkins get loose for too many looks, and he made us pay. This is life in the BIG EAST. You're across from a good team every night. We need to come back to practice with a sense of urgency and an attention to detail with another great team coming in here Wednesday night (Villanova)."

After Butler briefly re-took the lead at 43-41 with a Bryce Nze slam at the 12:01 mark, Providence responded with the next eight points, highlighted by a pair of Pipkins' three-pointers, to re-gain control. Butler would never lead again, but did find itself tied at 51-51 with 6:40 remaining.

Butler could not find many opens looks in the closing stretch as Providence took a five-point advantage with 1:39 to play (59-54). An Nze put-back with 17 seconds remaining pulled Butler within one at 61-60 after the Bulldogs took advantage of a PC turnover. However, Pipkins hit four free throws for the final margin.

Kamar Baldwin led five Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points, five assists and five rebounds. Nze, Jordan Tucker (eight rebounds) and Bryce Golden each had 12 points, while Sean McDermott added 10.

Both teams shot 40 percent from the field, but Providence was able to make six three-pointers compared to just one for Butler. The Bulldogs were helped by a 24-of-31 performance at the free throw line.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday night, hosting Villanova at 6:30 p.m.