Markus Howard scored 51 points in Friday's win against USC.
MBB Minute -- Notable Wins, Tourney Records Fill Busy Friday
In Friday action, DePaul and Creighton posted notable victories. Marquette and Seton Hall also picked up wins that were backed up with record-setting performances.
DePaul led most of the way and held on in the final minute to nail down a 73-68 win over Minnesota. Charlie Moore posted his second straight double-double, finishing with 21 points and 12 assists. Paul Reed had 11 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight blocks. He is only the fifth player in school history to have at least eight blocks. The Blue Demons’ eight-game winning streak is the longest since a nine-game run in 1993-94.
Late last night, Creighton knocked off No. 12 Texas Tech 83-76 in overtime in the third-place game of the Las Vegas Invitational. Marcus Zegarowski scored a career-high 32 points and made the first basket in overtime that gave the Bluejays the lead for good. Ty-Shon Alexander added 18 points and 12 rebounds for this first career double-double.
Marquette’s Howard could not be stopped, flooding the net for 51 points in a 101-79 victory over USC in the Orlando Invitational semifinals. His 51-point performance broke his own tournament record of 40 points set on Thursday. Howard’s 91 points is already an Orlando Invitational scoring mark. Howard was 14-of-24 from the field, 9-of-17 form 3-point range and 14-of-17 from the foul line. Marquette will play No. 5 Maryland Sunday for the tourney crown.
Seton Hall’s Powell scored a team-high 24 points in an 84-76 victory against Iowa State in the fifth-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. For the three games, Powell, who made the All-Tournament Team, set a tourney record with 74 points. Against Iowa State, he had 19 points in the second half. Sandro Mamukelashvili helped with 18 points and six rebounds.
Providence took a second loss at the Wooden Legacy, dropping a 63-55 decision to College of Charleston. David Duke scored a career-high 22 points. A 12-1 run early in the second half gave Charleston control of the contest.
BIG EAST teams are 54-16 (.771) going into Saturday’s play.
There’s no tournament play on Saturday’s schedule, but there are three “regular” games. FS2 will telecast St. John’s hosting Wagner at noon ET followed by Georgetown meeting UNC Greensboro at 2 p.m. At noon, No. 25 Xavier meets Lipscomb at Cintas Center on FSN.