Providence doesn’t go down without a fight.
Less than one month after igniting a scuffle with St. John’s that resulted in six players being ejected, the No. 9 seed Friars will get another swing at the top-seeded Red Storm in Thursday’s Big East Tournament quarterfinals after overcoming a 16-point deficit to defeat No. 8 seed Butler 91-81 in Wednesday’s first-round matchup at Madison Square Garden.
Providence (15-17, 7-13), one of two Big East teams to beat St. John’s (25-6, 18-2) this season, was also one of two teams to defeat the Red Storm at home this season. On Jan. 3, the Friars left 19,000-plus at the Garden speechless after fighting back from a double-digit deficit in the final eight minutes.
Then came the Valentine’s Day fracas in Providence, where Duncan Powell elevated the rivalry by bringing down former Friars star Bryce Hopkins with a clothesline to the face, prompting Hopkins to shove Powell, who later swung at St. John’s forward Dillon Mitchell. Powell — who didn’t see the court in Wednesday’s win — received a three-game suspension for “combative actions.”
Providence came into the Garden limping, having lost back-to-back games since coach Kim English was reportedly informed that he would be fired at the conclusion of his third season. And the Friars looked set to be ousted from the tournament by Butler (16-16, 7-13) for the second straight year, spending the opening minutes on the mat while surrendering 15 straight points.
Butler’s Michael Ajayi, an All-Big East first-team selection, dominated the early action on the interior, putting up 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists by halftime. The Bulldogs led 27-11 midway through the first half before the Friars found a spark in freshman Stefan Vaaks. The sub-33 percent 3-point shooter drilled four 3s in the first half en route to a game-high 28 points, while Butler made just one from deep through 30-plus minutes.
The Bulldogs — who split a pair of double-overtime affairs with the Friars this season — led 42-40 at halftime and remained in front until Vaaks’ fifth 3 gave Providence the lead with 14:25 left. Ryan Mela (23 points, nine rebounds, five assists) helped stretch the Friars’ lead to 10 with less than 10 minutes remaining — shortly after Ajayi left the floor with four fouls — but the Bulldogs would not back down, making it 77-75 with less than four minutes remaining.
With the outcome in doubt, Vaaks swooped in twice more, delivering his seventh and eighth made 3s in the final minutes, setting the stage for the rematch with St. John’s.
Who’s ready for Round 3?