Providence, Villanova, DePaul Win on Saturday; Two BIG EAST video games set for Sunday afternoon

MBB Minute: Providence and Villanova used sturdy second half surges to earn wins on the street, whereas DePaul received a back-and-forth affair at dwelling in Saturday’s BIG EAST motion.  A pair of video games are scheduled for Sunday, with Creighton touring to Seton Hall at midday ET and Marquette headed to UConn for a 2 p.m. ET tilt.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Providence 77, St. John’s 71 – Box Score 

Providence erased a double-digit deficit with 14 minutes left, utilizing an 8-1 push over the ultimate two and a half minutes to win at St. John’s.  The Red Storm began sturdy, scoring the primary 13 factors of the sport.  But a 17-5 Friar run – capped by a Jamier Jones jumper – gave PC its first lead (25-24).  Jones and fellow freshman Stefan Vaaks proved to be the second half catalysts for Providence, ending the sport with 15 and 16 factors, respectively.  Vaaks made 4 3-pointers within the second half – together with a four-point play – with 2:55 left.  The Friars’ defensive efforts held the Red Storm to twenty-eight.2% capturing from the ground.  Zuby Ejiofor was good for St. John’s ending with 33 factors, 15 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and two steals.

Villanova 85, Butler 67 – Box Score 

The Wildcats poured in 55 factors within the second half, erasing a three-point deficit on the break, to earn a win at Butler.  The Bulldogs opened sturdy, main by as many as 9 lower than eight minutes in.  Butler’s defensive efforts held Nova to 1-of-12 capturing from past the arc within the opening stanza.  Villanova would rating the primary 10 factors of the second half – and made six of its first seven makes an attempt from the perimeter – en path to the victory.  All 5 Nova starters completed in double figures, led by Bryce Lindsay’s 18 factors.  Matt Hodge added 17, whereas Duke Brennan tallied a double-double with 15 factors and 10 boards.  Butler was led by Finley Bizjack’s 18 factors, whereas Michael Ajayi registered his twelfth double-double with 12 factors and 12 boards.

DePaul 86, Xavier 77 – Box Score 

Six Blue Demons scored in double-digits, pacing towards their first BIG EAST victory – 86-77 at dwelling towards Xavier.  CJ Gunn led all scorers with 22 factors, whereas Layden Blocker added 18 factors.  DePaul led 14-7 early on earlier than seven unanswered from Xavier knotted it at 14-14.  The two groups traded baskets the remainder of the half, with the Demons main 40-37 on the break.  There had been six ties and 6 lead modifications for the day.  DePaul scored the primary seven factors of the second half, however X’s perimeter assault tied it at 63-63 as Tre Carroll related from deep with 6:42 to play.  He would lead Xavier with 17 factors, whereas Roddie Anderson III added 15.

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Looking Ahead: Sunday contains a pair of BIG EAST video games, as Creighton heads to Seton Hall at midday on Peacock, whereas Marquette travels to face UConn at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

Sunday, Jan. 4

Peacock

Creighton at Seton Hall – Noon ET

Justin Kutcher (pxp); Tarik Turner (analyst)

NBC

Marquette at UConn – 2 p.m. ET

John Fanta (pxp); Donny Marshall (analyst)

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BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Public Availability Reports

Beginning in 2025-26, the BIG EAST Conference will present public reviews on the supply of student-athletes in convention video games within the sports activities of males’s and girls’s basketball. 

Men’s Basketball Availability Report

BIG EAST faculties shall be required to submit availability reviews three hours earlier than the scheduled tipoff time.  Under the reporting construction, gamers shall be designated as “questionable” or “out.”  Availability reviews shall be posted on the BIG EAST web site all through the 2025-26 season.