INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Butler outlasted Providence 113-110 in a double-overtime men’s basketball game Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs improved to 8-2 overall, while the Friars fell to 7-5. Providence led 45-41 at halftime, but Butler forced overtime with a 48-point second half. Both teams scored 11 points in the first extra period. Butler secured the win by outscoring Providence 13-10 in the second overtime. Michael Ajayi led all scorers with 28 points for Butler. Teammate Finley Bizjack added 26. The game drew an attendance of 7,321. Butler was a 6-point pregame favorite. The teams combined for 223 total points.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a game that defied statistical norms and required two extra periods to decide, Butler outlasted Providence 113-110 in a marathon men’s basketball showdown Saturday at a raucous Hinkle Fieldhouse. The contest, a Big East Conference opener for both teams, was a showcase of offensive efficiency and resilience, featuring 18 lead changes and 10 ties before a crowd of 7,321. The combined final score of 223 points shattered the pregame over/under line of 169.5, underscoring the relentless pace and shot-making that defined the afternoon. Providence, the visiting team, fell to 7-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Butler improved to 8-2 and 1-0 in the Big East, overcoming a late deficit in regulation to force overtime. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute of the second overtime. With Butler clinging to a 110-107 lead, Providence guard Jason Edwards, who finished with a game-high 32 points, committed a crucial turnover. Butler’s Michael Ajayi stole the ball near midcourt, leading to a swift offensive possession. The ball found Evan Haywood in the corner, and the Carmel, Indiana, native drained a three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining, pushing the Bulldogs’ lead to six and effectively sealing the victory. That shot capped a monumental performance for the Butler backcourt. Ajayi, a 6-foot-7 guard from Kent, Washington, played 44 minutes and scored 28 points, adding two assists and a critical late steal. Haywood contributed 18 points and four assists, including the decisive triple. Finley Bizjack of Trophy Club, Texas, matched Ajayi’s scoring output with 26 points of his own. The Bulldogs’ interior presence was anchored by Drayton Jones of Houston, who posted 11 points, eight assists and two blocks. Providence was led by the prolific scoring of Edwards, who added six assists to his 32 points in just 32 minutes of action. Jaylin Sellers of Columbus, Georgia, was a workhorse, playing 43 minutes and scoring 26 points. The Friars’ depth showed as Jamier Jones, Corey Floyd and Duncan Powell each chipped in 10 or 11 points. The game was a study in contrasting offensive styles yielding similar results. Providence shot slightly better from the field (47.7% to 46.9%) and from three-point range (37.8% to 35.7%), relying on 14 made threes. Butler, however, dominated at the free-throw line and on the glass. The Bulldogs attempted 38 free throws, making 27, compared to Providence’s 18 attempts and 14 makes. Butler also won the rebounding battle, particularly on the offensive end with 17 boards leading to second-chance opportunities. Neither team could establish a commanding lead. Providence took a 45-41 advantage into halftime, but Butler responded with a 48-point second half to force the first overtime tied at 89. Both teams scored 11 points in the initial extra period. In the second overtime, Butler’s 13-10 edge, punctuated by Haywood’s clutch three, proved the difference. The game’s tempo was frenetic, with both teams posting elite offensive ratings. Providence scored 110 points on 88 possessions (125.6 offensive rating), while Butler scored 113 on 89 possessions (126.9 offensive rating). Despite the high score, ball movement was at a premium, as the teams combined for only 11 total assists. Butler, which entered the game as a 6-point favorite with a 72.2% probability to win according to National Statistical’s ELO system, next travels to face Connecticut on Tuesday. Providence, which has now lost two of its last three games after a three-game winning streak, returns home to host Seton Hall on Friday.

Preview: Providence Friars at Butler Bulldogs INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A pair of teams looking to build momentum before the heart of Big East play will meet Saturday when the Providence Friars visit the Butler Bulldogs at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Providence (7-4) enters having won three straight, including an 86-79 home victory over Brown on Tuesday. The Friars have averaged 90 points per game during the win streak, showcasing an efficient offense. They are led by guard Jaylin Sellers, who is averaging 15.1 points per game. Sellers is coming off a 16-point performance against Brown and recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Rhode Island on Dec. 6. Butler (7-2) saw a four-game winning streak snapped in a 77-68 home loss to Boise State last Saturday. The Bulldogs will look to rebound behind a defense anchored by forward Drayton Jones, who has emerged as a formidable rim protector. Jones has blocked 13 shots over his last four games, including a five-block performance against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 2. The matchup pits Providence’s recent offensive surge against a Butler team that has held opponents to 68.8 points per game at home this season. The Friars are 1-2 in true road games, with losses at Colorado, Florida and Wisconsin. Butler is 4-1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. This contest opens a critical two-game stretch for both squads. Providence hosts Seton Hall on Dec. 19, while Butler faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Connecticut on Tuesday. Saturday’s game will be the conference opener for both programs. Providence was picked to finish sixth in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, while Butler was selected ninth. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EST. The game will be televised on FS1.