Creighton, Villanova, Xavier Advance In Tournaments
The BIG EAST’s three ranked teams averaged 94.0 points in Friday victories, while advancing in tournaments.
No. 22/20 Creighton scored 60 points in the first half in a 103-77 win over Washington State in the first round of the Paradise Jam in U.S. Virgin Islands. Cole Huff posted team highs of 19 points and six rebounds. Five Bluejays reached double figures. Maurice Watson Jr. had 10 of his 13 assists in the first half.
No. 3/3 Villanova knocked off Wake Forest 96-77 in the second round of the Charleston Classic. Josh Hart pumped in a career-high 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Mikal Bridges also notched a career scoring high with 19.
No. 11/10 Xavier beat Clemson 83-77 in the second round of the Tire Pros Invitational in Orlando, Fla. J.P. Macura established a career scoring high with 28 points and shot 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Trevon Bluiett added 21 points.
St. John’s fell a little short at Minnesota in a 92-86 loss in the final contest of the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The tandem of freshmen guards Marcus LoVett and Shamorie Ponds has impressed thus far. LoVett had 31 points and five assists, while Ponds posted 23 points and eight rebounds.
Marquette let a second-half lead slip away against Pittsburgh in the third-place game of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden. Pitt prevailed 78-75. Andrew Rowsey scored 20 points for the Golden Eagles.
The BIG EAST Saturday schedule includes three games. Providence hosts Grambling State on FS2 at noon ET. At 1 p.m., Butler meets Bucknell at Hinkle Fieldhouse on FSN. Creighton battles N.C. State in the second round of the Paradise Jam at 8:30p.m. on CBS Sports Network.