Butler, Marquette and Xavier all moved to 2-0 on Friday, while Villanova lost on the road in overtime.

The Bulldogs ran into the least resistance, dispatching Central Arkansas 85-53. After managing only 56 points in their season opener on Tuesday, Butler shot 57 percent from the field, including 10-of-22 from 3-point range. Freshman Jayden Taylor scored a game-high 18 points.

Marquette again rode Darryl Morsell and Justin Lewis to victory, a 75-70 win against New Hampshire. Morsell, who was last year’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Maryland, has excelled offensively in MU’s two games this year, notching consecutive scoring highs.  He had 26 points against UNH. Lewis registered his second straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Xavier used a strong second half, outscoring Kent State 42-23 after intermission en route to a 73-59 victory. Paul Scruggs led the way again, scoring a game-high 23 points.  Colby Jones was strong for a second straight contest, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting and eight rebounds.

No. 4 Villanova held a 10-point lead in the second half at No. 2 UCLA, but a late Bruin rally tied the game in regulation and the Wildcats lost 86-77 in overtime. Jermaine Samuels scored a team-high 20 points and Collin Gillespie added 18 points. 

A five-game Saturday slate includes Butler playing on a second straight day and Georgetown becoming the last league team to start its season opener. 

The day starts with two contests on FS2. UConn hosts Coppin State at noon ET and the Hoyas begin their 2021-22 campaign at home against Dartmouth.

At 4 p.m., BIG EAST fans can move over to FS1 when St. John’s will host Saint Peter’s. 

In the evening, it’s back to FS2 for Central Michigan at DePaul at 6 p.m. and Troy at Butler at 8 p.m.

BIG EAST teams own a 15-1 record going into Saturday’s play.