Shamorie Ponds and St. John's Are 5-0 for the First Time since 2009-10.
MBB Minute -- BIG EAST Teams Have 3-3 Thanksgiving Day
In the first three games on Thanksgiving Day, BIG EAST teams enjoyed their entrees and earned victories. The dessert part of the day was not so sweet as the three evening games resulted in defeat.
No. 5 Villanova was the first to play and the Wildcats turned back Tennessee 85-76 in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The duo of Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges continued their productive play. Brunson had a game-high 25 points, six assists and only one turnover. Bridges finished with 21 points in 23 minutes. Villanova aims for the tourney title today against Northern Iowa on ESPN2 at noon ET.
St. John’s is 5-0 for first time since 2009-10 after an 82-77 victory over Oregon State in the first round of the Advocare Invitational in Orlando, Fla. The Red Storm rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit behind Shamorie Ponds’ 26 points, six assists and no turnovers in 31 minutes. He was 15-of-15 from the foul line. St. John’s plays Missouri in a second-round game at 11 a.m. on ESPNews.
No. 15 Xavier pulled away in the second half from George Washington in an 83-64 victory at the Las Vegas Invitational. The Musketeers are 5-0 and Trevon Bluiett has scored at least 20 points in each contest. He finished Thursday’s game with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Quentin Goodin added 16 points. Xavier guns for its third straight in-season tourney crown when it meets Arizona State on FOX at 5:30 p.m.
No. 20 Seton Hall absorbed its first loss of the season, a 75-74 decision to Rhode Island in the semifinals of the NIT Tip-Off at Barclays Center. After coming back from an 11-point deficit to take the lead with 21 seconds left, the Pirates could not hold on. Angel Delgado posted his nation-leading 54th career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Myles Powell scored a career-high 21 points. The Hall plays Vanderbilt for third place on ESPNews at 9:45 p.m.
Butler was a victim of cold shooting in its 61-48 loss to Texas in the first round of the PK80 in Portland, Ore. The Bulldogs shot only 32.8 percent from the field. Kamar Baldwin led Butler in points (15), rebounds (6) and steals (3). The Bulldogs have a quick turnaround and will play Portland State at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
DePaul also suffered from cold shooting from the floor in its first-round game at the PK80. The Blue Demons hung with No. 5 Michigan State for a half before falling 73-51. Eli Cain and Max Strus each scored 12 points. Strus was 10-of-10 from the foul line. The Blue Demons meet Oregon on ESPNU at 9:30 p.m.
BIG EAST teams are a combined 37-10 (.787) this season going into Friday.