The first BIG EAST conference game of the season turned into a 50-minute thriller as Butler captured a 113-110 win over Providence Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Michael Ajayi led the Bulldogs with 28 points and 15 rebounds, while 12 of Finley Bizjack's 26 points came in the two overtime sessions.
 
With the win, Butler improves to 8-2. The Friars now stand at 7-5.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The game featured 30 lead changes and 20 ties.
• Butler scored the first seven points of the game over the first 2:43 of the game, which would be the largest lead of the contest for the Bulldogs.
• Providence held a 45-41 halftime advantage.
• After PC took an eight-point lead (58-50) with 15:04 remaining in regulation, the Bulldogs responded with eventual back-to-back three-pointers by Jamie Kaiser Jr. and Azavier Robinson to tie the game at 62-62 with 12:28 to play.
• Jaylin Sellers made two free throws for Providence with 19 seconds remaining to tie the game at 89-89. Bizjack got a clean look in the closing seconds of regulation but his three-point attempt did not connect.
• Stefan Vaaks made two free throws for PC with 15 seconds remaining at the end of the first overtime to tie the game at 100-100. Ajayi could not connect on a jumper at the horn, which sent the game to the second overtime period.
• With Providence holding a three-point lead (110-107) with 90 seconds to play, Bizjack connected on a three-pointer to tie the game. Butler was able to get a stop before Ajayi missed a dunk, stole the ball back after a rebound scrum, and started a series of passes that ended up with Evan Haywood connecting on a three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining. Butler came up with two stops over the final 35 seconds to take the win.

 
TIP-INS:

• Ajayi now has eight double-doubles in Butler's 10 games this season. He went 11-for-16 from the free throw line. He is the first Bulldog with 15 rebounds in a game since Bo Hodges against Providence March 10, 2022 in the BIG EAST Tournament.
• Bizjack was only 2-for-10 from behind the arc but those two makes were on his final two three-point attempts of the game. He made all eight of his free throw attempts.
• Haywood's 18 points were a career-high. He added four assists.
• Drayton Jones had a career-high eight assists to go along with 11 points and seven rebounds.
• Kaiser had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
• Butler had six players in double figures for the first time since a win at Seton Hall Feb. 5, 2025.
• Ajayi and Bizjack are the first Bulldogs to each score 25 points in the same game since Jahmyl Telfort and DJ Davis did that against Texas Tech Nov. 30, 2023.
• Jason Edwards led Providence with 32 points and Jaylin Sellers added 26. Providence also had six players in double figures.
• Butler shot 47 percent from the field and made 10-of-28 three-point attempts (36 percent).
• Providence shot 48 percent from the field and hit 14 of their 37 attempts from behind the arc.
• Butler held a 50-45 rebounding edge.
• The Bulldogs committed only seven turnovers in the 50 minutes; PC had only nine turnovers.
• Butler made 27 of 38 free throw attempts (71 percent).
• This is the first Butler game where both teams scored at least 100 points since Evansville defeated the Bulldogs, 136-128, in double-overtime Feb. 9, 1991.
• Butler and Providence will meet again Feb. 4 in Rhode Island.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue BIG EAST play Tuesday, heading on the road for a game at UConn in Hartford, Conn. The 8:30 p.m. tip will air on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.