They just don’t know how to do it any other way.
Providence’s remarkable run of close games and frantic finishes continued Thursday at Madison Square Garden in the Big East quarterfinals against the Butler Bulldogs. Down by three with 2:38 to play, the Friars’ second sense kicked in.
It was one of survival, and something this team has thrived on through a 25-4 record this season.
Following a Bryce Golden layup, Providence responded with a Nate Watson putback and a corner-pocket three from Al Durham – his only field goal of the game – to give the Friars a lead they had not had but twice earlier in the second half.
Justin Minaya came up with a key block and tip of a rebound to Jared Bynum in the game's dying seconds, and the Big East sixth man of the year iced the decision at the free throw line. Top-seeded Providence held on for a 65-61 win over No. 9 Butler to move into the first Friday night semifinal in Manhattan.
“I was just told Durham’s last three he made was in January. In January,” Friar coach Ed Cooley said in the aftermath. “But you know what? He made it. And I trust him, he’s made some big shots for us the whole time.”
A tight affair with neither team leading by more than six at any point, PC jumped out early. But it was Butler – having gone to overtime Wednesday night to eliminate Xavier and get to this point – that dictated tempo with a defense designed to give the Friars trouble.
And it did. It was a 3-2 zone that made things difficult for PC to find the middle. But Nate Watson found it often enough to the tune of a season high 26 points in leading the way.
“Nate was a monster the whole night,” Cooley said. “We didn’t do a lot of things great but we did enough to win. And I think today was a microcosm of the type of season that we’re having.”
Durham played his first game since the end of February, struggling with a hernia that kept him out of Providence’s last game, a loss at Villanova. Jared Bynum, the Big East sixth man of the year, came off the bench to supply 16 points as only he and Watson reached double figures. The Friars were outrebounded by Butler 44-41, but hit just enough from the floor – and the line – to survive and advance.
“Again, wasn’t pretty. We just had a way to get through today,” Cooley added. “Hopefully we’re better tomorrow.”
Providence will face Creighton at 6:30 p.m. in the first game of a Friday night doubleheader. The fourth-seeded Blue Jays defeated No. 5 Marquette 74-63 to earn the other semifinal slot.
Expect that one to go to the bitter end, like many others have gone this season. The Friars just don’t know how to do it any other way.
POSTGAME NOTES
Attendance for the first session Thursday was listed a sellout at 19,812, marking the first time since the league reconfigured in 2013-14 the first quarterfinal session sold every seat.
The appearance in the Tournament semis will be the fifth time since Big East reconfiguration in 2014. Watson’s 26 points were a season high for the 6-foot-10 fifth-year senior, and the most since Ben Bentil poured in 38 in 2016 – also against Butler.
The Bulldogs close out their season at 14-19 overall. They had been 6-1 on the year when freshman Simas Lukosius reached double figures in scoring…but the Friar defense held him to just four on 1-for-11 shooting…one night after scorching Xavier for a career-best 27 points.