Cotton was 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and dished out six assists for Providence (18-10, 8-7 Big East). LaDontae Henton added 15 points and seven assists while Kadeem Betts, Tyler Harris and Josh Fortune each chipped in 14 points.

Kellen Dunham led Butler (12-15, 2-13) with 25 points while Khyle Marshall added 22. Andrew Chrabascz scored 14 points and Kameron Woods returned from a one-game suspension to record eight points and 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs lost their sixth consecutive game.

Both teams came out fast, with the Friars hitting four of their first five attempts from 3-point range yet still tailing 16-14 nearly eight minutes into the game. Providence put together a 25-10 run from that point to take a comfortable lead, and the advantage was still 13 going to halftime.

The Bulldogs got right back into it in the second half, opening on a 19-4 run to take a two-point advantage with just under 14 minutes to play. It was close from then on, but the Friars took the lead for good on Henton's 3-pointer midway through the half and hit 13 free throws in the final five minutes to help to stave off any Butler attempt at a rally.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Butler G Alex Barlow had nine points, eight assists and three steals in a losing effort. … Providence shot 66.7 percent from the field, including 13-of-20 from 3-point range. … The Bulldogs nearly had as many offensive rebounds as they had defensive, snagging 12 of their 28 boards from the offensive glass.