MBB Minute – In Tuesday’s BIG EAST play, St. John’s captured a tournament crown and Creighton advanced to their tournament final.  
 
The Johnnies (6-0) won the Empire Classic with a 76-67 overtime victory against Syracuse at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Guard Andre Curbelo was chosen as the tourney MVP. He scored a career-high 23 points, dished six assists and made four steals against the Orange. Joel Soriano put together his NCAA-leading fifth double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. David Jones came through with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
 
In a high-level contest in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, No.10 (AP) Creighton prevailed 90-87 over No. 9 Arkansas. Coupled with Monday’s win over No. 21 Texas Tech, it’s the first time in program history that the Bluejays (6-0) have beaten ranked opponents on consecutive days. Like St. John’s, Creighton had a triumvirate that were difference makers. Ryan Nembhard netted a career-high 25 points and added six rebounds and five assists. Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 21 points and Baylor Scheierman finished with 20.
 
Creighton takes on No. 14 Arizona in the championship game at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
 
Wednesday’s schedule includes four other games. It starts early with Georgetown hosting American at 11:30 a.m. on FS2., which also will televise Merrimack at Providence at 7 p.m. At 6 p.m., Marquette battles Georgia Tech in the third-place game of the Ft. Myers Tipoff on FS1. Butler opens play in the Battle 4 Atlantis against No. 22 Tennessee on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m.