Bank is open for Kris Dunn ... at least vs. Butler
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- On another cold New England night, No. 16 Providence was once again cold from beyond the 3-point line.
That was until Kris Dunn connected on two threes in the game's final minutes, including a banked shot, to lift the Friars to a 71-68 win over No. 18 Butler on Tuesday night.
Dunn, had been contained for most of the night, but bookended an 11-2 run with his second 3-pointer of the half. With less than 80 seconds remaining in the regulation, the 6-foot-3 junior guard came off a Rodney Bullock screen and launched a three from the top of the key. Dunn, who had several shots ricochet off the backboard on Tuesday night, found glass once again, only this time his attempt found its way into the bottom of the net.
That put the Friars up 71-66, their largest lead of the game. Providence would survive a chaotic final possession for the Bulldogs, as both Kelan Martin and Kellen Dunham missed potential game-tying threes.
“It’s funny,” Providence head coach Ed Cooley said. “When we were at Butler last year, similar situation, where it was a banked shot three. Sometimes Christmas comes early in January and that was the biggest basket of the game because we went up five. I don’t think they ever got the lead again.”
Back on Jan. 7, 2014, Dunn banked in a 3-pointer, which sparked an 11-2 run in the final minutes of Providence's 66-62 win at Butler.
“It’s the second time he’s done it on us," Butler head coach Chris Holtmann said. "He’s making it an art.”
Dunn was limited to only nine points, his lowest point total since playing one half against Boston College on Dec. 9. Ben Bentil led the Friars with 20 points. Kellen Dunham had a game-high 21 in a losing effort.
Providence, which avoided its third consecutive home loss, has successfully completed the first of three games against ranked opponents. The Friars travel to No. 4 Villanova on Saturday before returning home to host No. 5 Xavier on Jan. 26.
