INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Luwane Pipkins scored 22 points and made six consecutive free throws in the final minute Saturday to help Providence hold on for a 65-61 victory over No. 16 Butler.
The Friars (12-10, 5-4 Big East) snapped a three-game losing streak by beating a ranked team for the first time since March 19, 2018. It was also their first road win over a team in the AP Top 25 since Feb. 22, 2017.
Kamar Baldwin finished with 14 points and Justin Tucker had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (17-5, 5-4). Butler has lost two of its last three home games.
The Friars made a lineup change to slow down Butler and it worked perfectly. Defensively, Providence jammed up the middle and still had enough speed on the perimeter to prevent Butler’s shooters from getting many open looks.
After going 5 of 17 from the field and committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Butler charged back from an eight-point second-half deficit to take a 43-41 lead with 12:02 to play.
But the Friars answered with six straight and never trailed again.
David Duke’s putback finally gave Providence a 58-54 cushion with 2:22 left — and Pipkins closed it out.
BIG PICTURE
Providence: Coach Ed Cooley took a gamble by bringing top scorer and rebounder Alpha Diallo off the bench. It paid dividends. With 6-foot-10 Nate Watson and 6-9 Kalif Young playing together, it allowed the Friars to be more physical and turn things around against a team they lost to by 12 just three weeks ago.
Butler: The Bulldogs were not themselves Saturday and one reason was the absence of point guard Aaron Thompson. They haven’t been the same since Thompson hurt his wrist. Cooley forced the Bulldogs to rely on 2-pointers for most of the game.
STAT PACK
Providence: Diallo’s streak of 76 consecutive starts came to an end Saturday and he wound up with just three points and four rebounds. ... Duke finished with 10 points. ... Providence had 27-1 scoring advantage off the bench. ... The Friars are 1-4 against ranked teams this season.
Butler: Bryce Nze scored 12 points and Sean McDermott had 10 points and seven rebounds. ... The Bulldogs shot 40% from the field and were just 1 of 14 on 3-pointers. ... Butler is 4-2 in games decided by five or fewer points. ... Baldwin now has 1,804 points and has moved past Lynn Michem (1,798) for seventh in school history. He also had two steals, giving him 184 in his career and moving him into fourth all-time — one ahead of A.J. Graves.
UP NEXT
Providence: Plays its only home game in this four-game stretch Wednesday against Creighton.
Butler: Hopes to even the season series when No. 8 Villanova visits Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
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