Georgetown's Omer Yurtseven had 17 points and eight rebounds in an 80-60 win versus American.
MBB Minute -- BIG EAST Play Starts Monday after Saturday's 4-0 Sweep
The BIG EAST league schedule finally begins on Monday. Four BIG EAST teams completed their non-league slates Saturday with comfortable victories at home. The BIG EAST’s collective non-conference record stands at 101-25 (.802), the fifth best in league history.
Conference play starts with two games on Monday, both on FS1. Villanova hosts Xavier at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Finneran Pavilion followed by Seton Hall at DePaul at 8:30 p.m.
The last meeting between Villanova and Xavier came in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals last March with the Wildcats prevailing 71-67 in overtime. The two teams split the regular-season series with each home team victorious. This year, the Musketeers have started 11-2. They are 9-0 when holding opponents under 70 points. The Wildcats are 9-2 and are coming off a 56-55 win over then-No. 1 Kansas.
DePaul took both regular-season meetings last year against Seton Hall, including a 75-74 decision at Wintrust Arena on Jan. 6. Prior to last year, the Pirates (8-4) had won six straight in the series. The Hall’s Myles Powell, who has missed the last two games because of concussion protocol, is second in the league in scoring with a 21.2 average. The Blue Demons (12-1) currently have a player lead the BIG EAST in rebounding (Paul Reed-10.9), field goal percentage (Jaylen Butz-.563), blocks (Reed-3.2) and assists Charlie Moore (6.7). Moore is also tied for first in steals at 2.08.
On Saturday, Georgetown (10-3) used a 25-6 run spanning the first and second half to pull away from American 80-60 for its sixth win in a row. Omer Yurtseven had 17 points and eight rebounds. Terrell Allen and Jahvon Blair each added 14 points.
Marquette did not have a problem with Central Arkansas, winning 106-54, the sixth largest margin of victory in school history. Markus Howard scored a game-high 30 points. The Golden Eagles (10-2) have won five in a row.
Butler took the defensive route in a 67-36 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. The Bulldogs held the Warhawks to 23.3 percent shooting from the field. Derrik Smits scored a team-high 16 points in only 12 minutes.
Creighton did not trail in a 91-54 win over NAIA member Midland. Ty-Shon Alexander and Marcus Zegarowski each scored 17 points.