#16 PC Friars Snap Out Of Home Funk, Edge #18 Butler At The Dunk

Providence College Press Release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The No. 16/17 Providence College men’s basketball team defeated No. 18/24 Butler, 71-68, on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.  The Friars improved to 16-3 (4-2 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs moved to 13-5 (2-4 BIG EAST).  Junior guard Kris Dunn (New London, Conn.) banked in a three-pointer with 1:11 left to give the Friars a 5-point lead and what would prove to be the winning basket.

Three Friars scored in double-digits versus the Bulldogs including sophomore Ben Bentil (Wilmington, Del.) who paced the Friars with 20 points. Sophomore Rodney Bullock (Hampton, Va.) scored 16, and sophomore Kyron Cartwright (Compton, Calif.) added 13.  Bentil also added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  Bullock grabbed eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal.  Cartwright added two assists, one rebounds, and one steal.  Junior Kris Dunn (New London, Conn.) registered nine points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal.

The Friars held the lead, 36-33, after 20 minutes of action.  The first half saw five lead changes and seven ties.  Butler held the lead for the majority of the first (12:21), with its largest lead of the game of six points coming with 13:16 left in the first, 14-8.  Cartwright led-all in scoring for the first half with 13 points, he also added one assist and one steal.  He paced the Friars going 3-4 from three-point territory.

Butler came out of halftime flying as they entered the first media timeout with a five point lead, 50-45, as they scored 17 points in five minutes.  They were paced by Kellen Dunham who registered three three pointers in that span.  The Bulldogs maintained the lead until 8:48 left in the game when the Friars went ahead, 56-54, on a layup by Bullock.  The game was tied at 66 when Dunn found Bentil under the basket as he converted for a dunk as the shot clock expired and 1:59 left in regulation.  After a Butler turnover, Dunn nailed the three.  Butler’s Rosevelt Jones made a layup to cut the lead to three and the Bulldogs got a defensive stop to set up one final possession.  The Bulldogs had two shots in the final 10 seconds to try and tie the game but both missed and Friars earned the win.

Dunn finished with nine points, five rebounds and seven assists for the Friars.

Dunham led all in scoring with 21 points and he also added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

The game saw 12 ties and 11 lead changes.  For the game, Providence shot 24-of-57 (42%) from the field and held the advantage in scoring from the paint (36-34).  Butler shot 26-of-55 (47%) from the field, but was outrebounded by Providence (37-32)

The Friars will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 when they travel to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to face No. 4/4 Villanova at noon on Fox.

-GO FRIARS-