Providence used 14 three-pointers to climb back into the game and ultimately take a 91-81 win over Butler Wednesday in the first round of the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
 
The Friars, the No. 9 seed, advance to play No. 1 seed St. John's in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.
 
Butler falls to 16-16 on the season with the result. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Butler jumped out to a 25-9 lead, making 10 of their first 15 attempts from the field, over the first nine minutes of the game.
• Providence would climb back into the game, tying the game at 38-38 before the Bulldogs eventually led 42-40 at the half.
• A 12-0 run gave PC a 61-52 lead with 12:25 remaining, the Friars' first lead since 2-0.
• A Jamie Kaiser Jr. three-pointer with 3:52 remaining pulled Butler within two at 77-75 but the Bulldogs were never able to re-take the lead.

 
TIP-INS:

• Michael Ajayi led Butler with 21 points and 11 rebounds, his 19^th double-double of the season. Ajayi also set Butler's single-season rebounding mark in the game, moving past the record previously held by Daryl Mason in 1972-73 (354).
• Finley Bizjack (17) and Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (10) also reached double figures for Butler.
• Freshman Stefan Vaaks led Providence with 28 points, which included 8-for-13 shooting from three-point range. Ryan Mela and Jaylin Sellers each scored 23 points.
• Providence went 14-for-27 from three-point range (52 percent); the Friars shot 60 percent from the field in the second half.
• Butler shot 46 percent from the field, but only 5-for-17 from behind the arc.
• Butler and Providence split two regular season match-ups this season with each going to double-overtime and the home team victorious.