Hoosier State Today

Providence used a strong first half to ultimately take a 72-52 win over Butler Thursday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

With the result, Butler is now 8-6 on the season and 0-3 in BIG EAST play, while Providence improves to 11-3 (3-0 BIG EAST).

KEY STAT: Providence countered an early Butler lead with a 25-3 run, taking a 32-12 lead with 7:15 remaining in the first half. Providence built a 46-18 halftime lead, which was the Friars' largest advantage of the first half. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Devin Carter led the Friars with 21 points, hitting nine of his 16 attempts from the field. Fourteen of his points came in the opening 12:45 of the contest.
• Ed Croswell (15) and Jared Bynum (11) also reached double figures for Providence.
• Providence shot 45 percent from the field, including a 57-percent clip in the first half.
• The Bulldogs shot 35 percent from the field, and hit only two of their 16 three-point attempts.
• Jalen Thomas and Manny Bates led the Bulldogs with 12 points apiece; Chuck Harris added 10 points.
• Thomas and Ali Ali (nine) each posted season-highs in scoring, playing in their respective third games of the season.
• Providence held a 44-29 rebounding advantage.

OF NOTE:

• The teams will play again Jan. 25 in Rhode Island.
• Manny Bates entered the game 16th nationally in blocks per game at 2.5 per game. He had three blocks Thursday night.
• Butler had seven blocks in the contest, their second-most in a game this season.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will ring in the new year in the nation's capital, meeting Georgetown Sunday afternoon. The 6:30 p.m. tip will air on FS1. Butler returns home to Hinkle Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 4 to host DePaul. 

Original source can be found here.