Providence Friars Defeat Butler Bulldogs in Close Contest
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Madison Square Garden
Providence Friars 91, Butler Bulldogs 81, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Providence Friars vs Butler Bulldogs?
Providence Friars beat Butler Bulldogs 91-81 at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2026.
Who was favored in Providence Friars vs Butler Bulldogs?
Providence Friars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -120 (about 55% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Providence Friars emerged victorious over the Butler Bulldogs with a final score of 91-81. This game was significant as it showcased the competitive nature of both teams, who entered the contest with similar records in the NCAAB league, with Butler holding a home record of 16-16 and Providence at 15-17 overall.
Butler's recent form showed a mixed bag of results, finishing their last ten games with a record of 3-7, but they managed to secure a win in their most recent outing against DePaul Blue Demons, scoring 81 points while allowing 71. Their scoring average over the last ten games was 71.8 points per game, while they allowed an average of 78.0 points. At home, Butler struggled, recording a 1-4 record in their last five home games, with an average of 77.2 points scored and 78.6 points allowed in that span.
On the other hand, Providence had a record of 5-5 in their last ten games leading up to this fixture, but they were on a two-game losing streak before facing Butler. The Friars averaged 78.8 points scored and allowed 79.8 points during this stretch. Their last five games saw them with a 3-2 record, scoring an average of 75.8 points and allowing 77.2 points. Providence's performance on the road was slightly less favorable, with a 2-3 record in their last five away games.
Historically, the matchup between these two teams has been competitive, with Providence leading the head-to-head record at 3-2 over the past two seasons. Their most recent meeting prior to this game was on February 5, 2026, where Providence won 97-87. The previous matchups included a close 113-110 victory for Butler in December 2025 and a 75-69 win for Providence in March 2025.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the impact of any missing players could have been a factor in the game’s outcome. The betting market had Providence favored by 1.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 162.5 points, indicating expectations for a high-scoring game.
The conditions at Madison Square Garden were conducive to a competitive atmosphere, as both teams were vying for an important win. Fans witnessed a thrilling encounter, with significant scoring plays in the second half that influenced the game's outcome. Notably, Michael Ajayi contributed crucial free throws, while Stefan Vaaks made a pivotal 26-foot three-pointer that extended Providence's lead.
As the game progressed, Butler attempted to rally back, with Evan Haywood hitting a 28-foot three-point jumper, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. Jaylin Sellers also added free throws that sealed the victory for Providence.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the resilience of both teams, with Providence taking the upper hand in a key moment of their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PROV -1.5 | 162.5 o -112 / u -108 | Providence Friars -120 · Butler Bulldogs +100 |
Leaders
- PointsMichael Ajayi21Butler Bulldogs
- AssistsFinley Bizjack5Butler Bulldogs
- ReboundsMichael Ajayi11Butler Bulldogs
- PointsStefan Vaaks28Providence Friars
- AssistsRyan Mela5Providence Friars
- ReboundsRyan Mela9Providence Friars
Recent form
Butler Bulldogs
Last 10: 3-7Streak W171.8 scored · 78 allowed per game1-4 at home
- W81-71at DePaul Blue DemonsMar 7
- L59-76vs Creighton BluejaysMar 4
- L73-82at Villanova WildcatsFeb 26
- W80-75vs Xavier MusketeersFeb 21
- W93-89at Georgetown HoyasFeb 18
- L56-63vs Seton Hall PiratesFeb 15
- L70-80vs UConn HuskiesFeb 12
- L55-70at Marquette Golden EaglesFeb 7
- L87-97at Providence FriarsFeb 5
- L64-77vs Georgetown HoyasJan 31
Providence Friars
Last 10: 5-5Streak L278.8 scored · 79.8 allowed per game2-3 away
- L79-80at Georgetown HoyasMar 8
- L56-78vs Marquette Golden EaglesMar 5
- W79-76at Creighton BluejaysFeb 28
- W94-84vs Xavier MusketeersFeb 26
- W71-68at DePaul Blue DemonsFeb 22
- L69-79vs St. John's Red StormFeb 14
- L80-87at Seton Hall PiratesFeb 12
- W90-72vs DePaul Blue DemonsFeb 7
- W97-87vs Butler BulldogsFeb 5
- L73-87at Villanova WildcatsJan 31
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 30-7 | - | 18-2 |
| UConn | 34-6 | 1 | 17-3 |
| Villanova | 24-9 | 3 | 15-5 |
| Seton Hall | 21-12 | 8 | 10-10 |
| Creighton | 16-18 | 9 | 9-11 |
| DePaul | 16-16 | 10 | 8-12 |
| Butler | 16-16 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Providence | 15-18 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Marquette | 12-20 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Georgetown | 16-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
| Xavier | 15-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Providence Friars | Butler Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 34-65 | 30-65 |
| Field goal % | 52 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 14-27 | 5-17 |
| Three-point % | 52 | 29 |
| Free throws | 9-13 | 16-21 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 24 |
| Assists | 21 | 16 |
| Steals | 5 | 4 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 4 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 50 |
| Fouls | 16 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 39 | 59 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-48Ryan Mela makes 27-foot three point jumper (Oswin Erhunmwunse assists)
- 2nd Half45-50Drayton Jones makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half47-50Oswin Erhunmwunse makes 4-foot hook shot (Jamier Jones assists)
- 2nd Half49-50Oswin Erhunmwunse makes layup
- 2nd Half49-52Drayton Jones makes layup (Finley Bizjack assists)
- 2nd Half51-52Jaylin Sellers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half54-52Stefan Vaaks makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jaylin Sellers assists)
- 2nd Half57-52Jaylin Sellers makes 25-foot three pointer (Stefan Vaaks assists)
- 2nd Half59-52Ryan Mela makes 8-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half61-52Jaylin Sellers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half61-54Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor makes layup
- 2nd Half63-54Ryan Mela makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half63-56Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-58Michael Ajayi makes layup (Finley Bizjack assists)
- 2nd Half64-58Jaylin Sellers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-58Jaylin Sellers makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-58Jaylin Sellers makes 28-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half68-60Finley Bizjack makes driving layup
- 2nd Half68-61Finley Bizjack makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half71-61Stefan Vaaks makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half71-64Finley Bizjack makes 27-foot three point jumper (Drayton Jones assists)
- 2nd Half74-64Ryan Mela makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half74-66Evan Haywood makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Finley Bizjack assists)
- 2nd Half74-67Finley Bizjack makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-70Finley Bizjack makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half77-70Jaylin Sellers makes 24-foot three pointer (Stefan Vaaks assists)
- 2nd Half77-72Yohan Traore makes layup
- 2nd Half77-75Jamie Kaiser Jr. makes 25-foot three pointer (Finley Bizjack assists)
- 2nd Half79-75Jaylin Sellers makes 14-foot pullup jump shot (Stefan Vaaks assists)
- 2nd Half82-75Stefan Vaaks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jaylin Sellers assists)
- 2nd Half82-76Michael Ajayi makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-76Ryan Mela makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half84-77Michael Ajayi makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-78Michael Ajayi makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-78Stefan Vaaks makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half88-78Jaylin Sellers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half89-78Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half90-78Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-81Evan Haywood makes 28-foot three point jumper (Finley Bizjack assists)
- 2nd Half91-81Jaylin Sellers makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Butler Bulldogs, below favours Providence Friars.
Venue
- Madison Square GardenNew York, NY
- OfficialsJohn Gaffney, Nathan Hall, Greg Evans
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond