Providence College Press Release PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated the Butler Bulldogs (7-9, 0-5 BIG EAST), 84-65, on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. The Friars improved to 8-8 overall and 2-3 in BIG EAST play. Jayden Pierre (Elizabeth, N.J.) and Bensley Joseph (Arlington, Mass.) led the way for the Friars, each finishing with 18 points. Senior Wesley Cardet Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 17 points. Freshman Ryan Mela (Natick, Mass.) posted his first career double-double, with 10 points, 15 rebounds, as well as four assists. “We responded well, we were connected, and we played a pretty clean game on both sides of the ball,” Head Coach Kim English said. “I’m really proud that we came out on top with the victory.” “I feel like our team is just coming together,” Pierre said. “We had a couple of close games where we were just right there, and I feel like now we know what it looks like to put together a good 40-minute game and take that next step.” FIRST HALF:  After a Butler basket, Mela collected his own missed shot and converted on the follow-up to get the Friars on the board. Butler pulled ahead early – 14-9 – with a 9-0 scoring run. At the 10:06 mark, Pierre drew contact and drained a three-pointer, converting a four-point play. The Friars regained the lead, 19-16. Three straight buckets had the Friars up 25-20 with 6:25 remaining in the half. The Friars forced three turnovers and Butler scoreless in the final 3:36 of the half, pushing the lead to 37-29 before halftime. Butler missed its final five shots. Mela led the way for the Friars at halftime with eight points and seven rebounds. Providence shot 16-36 (44.4%) from the field, 3-10 (30.0%) from three, and 2-4 (50.0%) from the free throw line. Butler shot 11-27 (40.7%) from the field, 2-7 (28.6%) from three, 5-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line. SECOND HALF:   At the 17:11 mark, Pierre buried his second three-pointer to open the half for the Friars. Pierre scored eight of the team’s first 10 second half points. Wesley Cardet Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla.) brought a spark in the second half, knocking down his second three-ball of the night with 12:03 remaining. The Friars gained a 55-43 lead. Cardet, Joseph, and Pierre spearheaded the Friars’ offensive attack in the second half. Heading into the final seven minutes of action, the Friars led 64-49. With 4:32 remaining, Cardet stole the ball away and Pierre finished the one-handed slam in transition. The Friars led by 16 points, 71-55. Joseph nailed back-to-back threes as part of his 13 second half points, sealing the game for PC. The Friars’ largest lead was 22 points, when the score was 82-60 in the final two minutes. HIGHLIGHTS:  Providence outscored Butler 23-6 in second-chance points. The Friars out-rebounded the Bulldogs by a margin of 17 (43-26). Four Friars finished in double figures: Joseph (18), Pierre (18), Cardet (17), and Mela (10). Mela – in his first career start – recorded 15 rebounds. It marked a career-high and team season-high, topping Oswin Erhunmwunse’s (Benin City, Nigeria) 11 rebounds versus Davidson on Nov. 28. Cardet recorded his fifth consecutive game with double-digit points and ninth this season. Erhunmwunse blocked three shots for the fourth time this season. He also hauled in five rebounds. Providence shot 34-70 (48.6%) from the field, 10-24 (41.7%) from three, and 6-9 (66.7%) from the free throw line. Butler shot 23-57 (40.4%) from the field, 4-16 (25.0%) from three, 15-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line. NOTES: Mela became the first Friar to record 15 rebounds since Devin Carter (Miami, Fla.) accomplished the feat last season vs. No. 2/2 UConn on Mar. 10, 2024. Mela is the first freshman Friar to haul in 15 rebounds in a game since LaDontae Henton (Lansing, Mich.) on Feb. 25, 2012 at DePaul. Tonight’s game marked the team’s first-ever game on Peacock. The Friars snapped a four-game losing streak with tonight’s victory. The Friars improved to a 20-6 mark all-time versus Butler, including a 10-2 record at the AMP. In the most recent meeting between the two teams, Butler defeated the Friars – 75-72 – at Hinkle Fieldhouse last season on Feb. 10, 2024. The last time the two teams played at PC, the Friars earned an 85-75 win in overtime on December 23, 2023 at Amica Mutual Pavilion. The Friars moved to 4-4 when leading at halftime this season, which includes wins over Stonehill, Delaware State, and BYU. UP NEXT: Providence will return to the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., on Saturday, January 11, versus Seton Hall (6-9, 1-3 BIG EAST), with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Categories: College Sports, Sports Tags: PC Friars, Providence College