Ty-Shon Alexander had 22 points and eight rebounds in Friday's win.
MBB Minute -- Creighton Improves to 8-2 with Friday Victory
Creighton started the weekend for BIG EAST teams by posting its largest margin of victory this season on Friday. Six more conference teams are in action on Saturday. League teams have a combined record of 75-22 (.773). Four BIG EAST squads are ranked in this week’s Associated Press poll – No. 18 Butler, No. 20 Villanova, No. 22 Seton Hall and No. 23 Xavier.
The Bluejays are 8-2 after an 89-58 victory over UT-Rio Grande Valley. Ty-Shon Alexander scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Marcus Zegarowski added 21 points.
Saturday’s action begins with Butler hosting Southern at noon ET on FS1. The Bulldogs (9-1), who lost 53-52 at No. 11 Baylor on Tuesday, lead the BIG EAST in scoring defense, allowing only 55.9 points per game.
At 1 p.m. on FOX, Georgetown (6-3) hosts Syracuse. Probably the BIG EAST’s most storied rivalry when Syracuse was a conference member, the two teams continue to meet once each year. The Hoyas’ are led by Omer Yurtseven, who is averaging 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. Mac McClung, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, is averaging 15.0 points.
DePaul wants to jump back on the winning track after losing to Buffalo this past Sunday. The Blue Demons (9-1) host Illinois-Chicago 2 p.m. on FS1. Paul Reed leads the league in rebounding (10.8) and blocked shots (3.6).
Villanova meets Delaware in the Never Forget Classic at Prudential Center at 2 p.m. on ESPN2. Saddiq Bey leads the Wildcats (7-2) in scoring with a 16.7 average. Last season, he averaged 8.2 points.
At 4 p.m., Seton Hall visits Rutgers in the Garden State Hardwood Classic. The Pirates (6-3) won last year’s meeting 72-66. Myles Powell ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 22.9 average.
Also at 4 p.m., Xavier travels to Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser Classic. The Musketeers (9-1) hold a 4-2 edge in the series, which honors the late former coach of both institutions.
Providence hosts Stony Brook at 8 p.m. on FS1. The Friars (5-5) have lost four of their last five games, but rank second in the BIG EAST in turnover margin at +4.2.