Collin Gillespie scored a team-high 21 points and dished out four assists in Villanova's 79-75 overtime win against DePaul
MBB Minute – Villanova Beats DePaul in OT; Unbeaten Seton Hall and Butler Square Off Wednesday
DePaul opened the game with a 21-8 lead and used a late 12-1 run to force overtime, but No. 16 Villanova prevailed in the extra period, winning 79-75 Tuesday at Finneran Pavilion. Collin Gillespie, who finished with a team-high 21 points, was 6-of-6 from the foul line in overtime for the Wildcats (13-3, 4-1). Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Charlie Moore led the Blue Demons (12-5, 0-4) with a game-high 29 points and sent the contest into OT on a driving layup with eight seconds left. Paul Reed had 18 points, 15 rebounds and five steals.
On Wednesday, the two remaining unbeaten teams in the BIG EAST standings – No. 18 Seton Hall and No. 5 Butler – meet at Hinkle Fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Both squads are on six-game winning streaks and are the top league teams in scoring defense. Butler (15-1, 3-0) gives up 54.4 points per game while Seton Hall (12-4, 4-0) yields 64.1. Last year’s two meetings were decided by a total of three points. The Bulldogs won the meeting at Hinkle 70-68 and the Pirates took a 76-75 decision at Prudential Center. The last nine meetings have been decided by seven points or less.
Creighton continues its two-game road trip at Georgetown at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Bluejays (13-4, 2-2), ranked 25th this week by AP, are coming off a 77-65 win at Xavier. The game matches the top two scoring offenses in the league. The Hoyas (11-6, 1-3) rank first, averaging 78.8 points per game. The Bluejays are second at 77.1. Creighton’s three-guard lineup of Marcus Zegarowski, Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock combine for 45.7 points per game. The Hoyas scoring leader is inside. Center Omer Yurtseven is averaging 16.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
Xavier visits Marquette in a matchup that shows both teams 1-3 in the league standings and aiming to end two-game losing streaks. Naji Marshall leads the Musketeers (12-5) with a 16.8 scoring mark. Tyrique Jones averages 13.5 points and 9.8 boards. The Golden Eagles (11-5) are 8-1 at Fiserv Forum this season. Markus Howard ranks 11th on the BIG EAST’s all-time career scoring list with 1,183 points after Saturday’s 27-point game at Seton Hall on Saturday. Xavier has won nine of the last 14 in the series. FSN will televise at 8 p.m.
Providence hosts St. John’s on FS1 at 8:30 p.m. The Friars (10-7, 3-1) lost their first league game last Friday, a 70-58 decision to Butler while the Johnnies (12-5, 1-3) picked up their first BIG EAST win on Saturday, defeating DePaul 74-67. PC’s Alpha Diallo averages team highs of 14.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. Guard David Duke averages 12.0 points and is the most accurate 3-point shooter in the BIG EAST, making 46.2 percent. The last time St. John’s coach Mike Anderson was in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center his Arkansas team beat Providence 84-72 in the first round of last year’s NIT.
Home teams are 12-8 (.600) in league games going into Wednesday.