Xavier and Providence notched impressive victories in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle on Wednesday with each team’s top scorer getting 28 points. 

Xavier set a school record with 19 3-pointers made in its 99-77 triumph over visiting Oklahoma.  Zach Freemantle, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, made his first seven shots of the game and finished with a game-high 28 points.  Nate Johnson poured in 25 points and Paul Scruggs added 20 points and eight assists.  The Musketeers are the nation’s only team with a 7-0 record.  Xavier’s starts BIG EAST play Saturday at Providence.

Playing its first true road game of the season, Providence took control in the first half and won 79-70 at TCU.  David Duke led the Friars (4-2) with 28 points and seven assists.  He made 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.  Nate Watson continued to be the prime PC contributor with Duke and added 18 points.  The Friars shot 54.8 percent from the field.

Thursday’s BIG EAST schedule is dark, but a four-game slate on Friday includes two games that start conference play.

St. John’s and Seton Hall open league competition with a 4:30 p.m. tipoff at Prudential Center on CBS Sports Network.  Villanova visits Georgetown at McDonough Arena at 7 p.m. on FS1.  The two non-conference matchups have Creighton hosting Nebraska at 7 p.m. on BTN and Marquette at UCLA on the Pac-12 Network at 9:30 p.m. 

BIG EAST teams own an overall record of 36-11 (.766) going into Friday’s action.