MBB Minute – The BIG EAST’s five-game Friday included Connecticut remaining undefeated, a pair of two-point losses in the Gavitt Tipoff Games and Georgetown and DePaul dropping first-round contests in tournament play.
 
UConn improved to 4-0 with an 86-50 thumping of UNC-Wilmington at Gampel Pavilion. Jordan Hawkins returned from a finger injury and scored a career-high 20 points. Adama Sanogo contributed 24 points. The Huskies closed the half with a 24-6 run to take control.
 
In the Gavitt Games, Xavier lost to No. 12 Indiana 81-79. The Musketeers (3-1) placed five players in double figures led by 15-point efforts from Zach Freemantle and Souley Boum. Xavier was down by eight points with 2:20 left before a late rally cut the deficit to one point in the final minute.
 
Villanova trailed 59-43 with just over seven minutes left at Michigan State before rallying. Eric Dixon’s 3-point attempt went off the back rim in the final seconds and the Wildcats (2-2) lost 73-71. Dixon led all scorers with 24 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Brandon Slater finished with 16 points.
 
Georgetown led Loyola Marymount 42-32 at half, but could not keep it up after the break and lost 84-66 in the first round of the Jamaica Classic. Brandon Murray led the Hoyas with 19 points. Jay Heath added 15 points.
 
Playing in the Baha Mar Bahamas Championship, DePaul lost 69-61 to Santa Clara. The Blue Demons were led by Umola Gibson’s 18 points. Santa Clara closed the first half with a 30-6 run. The Blue Demons cut the deficit to eight points, but could not come all the way back.
 
A light Saturday slate has only two games. Providence meets Miami, Fla. in the Hall of Fame Classic at Mohegan Sun at 4 p.m. ET on ENews. Butler hosts The Citadel at 7 p.m. on FS2.