PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — Jaylin Sellers scored 36 points to lead Providence to a 97-87 double-overtime victory over Butler in a Big East men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Center. The Friars, who improved to 10-13, closed the second extra period on a 10-2 run to secure the win after the teams were tied at 78 through regulation and 87 after the first overtime. Sellers, a guard from Columbus, Georgia, keyed the decisive stretch. Finley Bizjack led Butler (13-10) with 30 points. Michael Ajayi added 20 for the Bulldogs. Providence shot 31 of 66 from the field and outrebounded Butler 15-10 on the offensive glass. Both teams committed 10 turnovers before a crowd of 8,152.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — In a marathon Big East Conference clash that required two extra periods to decide, the Providence Friars outlasted the Butler Bulldogs 97-87 on Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The victory, fueled by a career-high 36 points from Jaylin Sellers, avenged a double-overtime loss to Butler earlier in the season and snapped a four-game losing skid for the Friars. The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, arrived in the final minute of the first overtime. With Providence clinging to a 79-78 lead, Butler’s Evan Haywood missed a three-pointer that would have given the Bulldogs the lead. Providence’s Ryan Mela secured the defensive rebound, and after a timeout, the Friars executed a critical play. Mela found Nilavan Jotham Daniels in the corner, and the reserve guard from St. Louis sank a clutch three-pointer with 18 seconds left, pushing the Friars’ lead to 82-78. Butler’s Michael Ajayi was fouled on the ensuing possession and made two free throws to cut the deficit to 82-80, but Providence managed to run out the clock on its next possession, forcing a second overtime. The momentum from Daniels’ shot carried over, as the Friars dominated the final five-minute session 15-5 to seal the win before a crowd of 8,152. The game was a tense, back-and-forth affair from the start, featuring 18 lead changes and 10 ties. Butler, the visiting team, held a narrow 34-32 lead at halftime behind 12 points from Finley Bizjack. The Bulldogs extended their advantage to as many as seven points in the second half, but Providence, led relentlessly by Sellers, chipped away. The Columbus, Georgia, native scored 20 of his points after halftime, including a driving layup and a three-pointer in the final two minutes of regulation that helped force the first overtime tied at 73-73. Sellers’ performance was monumental, surpassing his previous season high. He played 42 minutes, shot 12 of 23 from the field, and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line, adding two assists. He received vital support from Stefan Vaaks, who scored 20 points, and Ryan Mela, who added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Butler was led by a heroic effort from Finley Bizjack. The guard from Trophy Club, Texas, played all but two minutes of the 50-minute contest, finishing with 30 points and five assists. Michael Ajayi contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks for the Bulldogs, while Yohan Traore added nine points off the bench. Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Both teams took almost the same number of field goals and committed 10 turnovers apiece. The difference came at the free throw line and on the offensive glass. Providence attempted 39 free throws, making 26, compared to Butler’s 23-of-34 performance. The Friars also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 19 second-chance points, which proved crucial in a game of such fine margins. With the win, Providence improves to 10-13 overall and 4-8 in the Big East. Butler falls to 13-10 and 6-6 in conference play. The Friars will look to build on this momentum when they host DePaul on Saturday. Butler, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Marquette on Saturday. The result flipped the pregame expectations, as Providence, a 3.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, managed to cover the spread. The total points scored, 184, sailed over the betting over/under line of 172.5.

Butler Aims to Sweep Season Series at Struggling Providence PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — The Butler Bulldogs look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their position in the Big East when they visit the struggling Providence Friars on Wednesday night at Dunkin’ Center. Butler (13-9, 4-5 Big East) enters with a superior overall record but has lost two straight, including a 77-64 home defeat to Georgetown last Saturday. The Bulldogs will lean on guard Jamie Kaiser, who scored 19 points in that loss and is averaging 14.3 points over his last three games. His backcourt play will be pivotal against a Providence team searching for consistency. The Friars (9-13, 2-7) have lost seven of their last eight games, though several have been narrow defeats. They fell 87-73 at Villanova last Friday despite a 25-point effort from standout guard Stefan Vaaks. Vaaks has been a bright spot, averaging 21.4 points over his last five contests and will be the focal point of the Providence offense. This matchup is a rematch of a thrilling double-overtime game on Dec. 13, which Butler won 113-110 at home. Providence’s 110 points in that loss remain a season high. Butler’s path to victory likely involves containing Vaaks and capitalizing on its recent defensive successes, having held opponents under 80 points in three of its last five wins. Providence, meanwhile, must find a way to close games, as five of its nine conference losses have been by single digits, including an overtime defeat. The Bulldogs currently sit in the middle of the conference standings, while the Friars are near the bottom. A win for Butler would provide momentum before a tough stretch that includes games against Marquette and Connecticut. For Providence, a victory is crucial to halt its slide and build confidence before a more forgiving portion of its schedule. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST.