NEW YORK – Nate Watson scored 26 points, and top-seeded Providence went on a late 7-0 run to spoil an upset bid by No. 9 seed Butler 65-61 in a Big East basketball quarterfinal Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
The 10th-ranked Friars (25-4) will play in a semifinal of the tournament at 6:30 p.m. Friday against the winner between No. 4 seed Creighton (20-10) and No. 5 seed Marquette (19-11).
Providence is 11-2 in games decided by five or fewer points. Both losses were to Villanova.
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Butler led 59-56 with less than 90 seconds left but could not put away the Friars, losing to them for a third time.