MBB Minute: Villanova Takes St. John’s at MSG; Saturday Shows Three-Game Slate - Big East Conference Skip To Main Content

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Villanova’s Caleb Daniels netted a game-high 16 points.
Villanova’s Caleb Daniels netted a game-high 16 points.

Men's Basketball

MBB Minute: Villanova Takes St. John’s at MSG; Saturday Shows Three-Game Slate

MBB Minute – In the lone game on Friday, Villanova used a late 10-2 run to claim a 57-49 victory against St. John’s before 13,504 at Madison Square Garden.
 
The Wildcats (10-10, 4-5 BE) clamped down on defense late in the contest and held the Johnnies (13-7, 3-6) to only two points in the final 4:30. Villanova’s Caleb Daniels netted a game-high 16 points and Brandon Slater scored all of his 14 points in the second half. Neither team led by more than six points until the final hoop of the game with three seconds left. St. John’s Joel Soriano recorded his nation-leading 17th double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Saturday’s schedule begins at noon ET on FS1 when No. 8 Xavier tries to get back on the winning track when it hosts Georgetown. The Musketeers (15-4, 7-1 BIG EAST) had their 11-game winning streak stopped at DePaul on Wednesday. Point guard Souley Boum, who ranks second in the league in scoring with a 16.9 average, notched a career-high 28 points in a 102-89 win against the Hoyas (5-14, 0-8 BE) on Dec. 16. Primo Spears had 22 points for Georgetown. His 15.5 scoring mark ranks ninth in the league.
 
DePaul will try to build on Wednesday’s win over Xavier when it visits No. 22 Providence at 2 p.m. on FS1. The Blue Demons (9-10, 3-5) beat the Musketeers 67-66. The Friars (14-5, 6-2 BE) have dropped their last two, at Creighton and at Marquette, but they are 10-0 at home this season and have won 31 of its last 32 at the AMP. PC beat DePaul 74-59 at Wintrust Arena on Jan. 1. Ed Croswell led the Friars with 18 points. 
 
Seton Hall is playing its second ranked opponent this week when it hosts No 20 Marquette at 4 p.m. on CBSSN. The Pirates (12-8, 5-4 BIG EAST) have a four-game winning streak after Wednesday’s 67-66 win over No. 15 Connecticut. Second-half defense has been critical. The Hall has allowed fewer than 30 points after halftime in each of their four wins. The Golden Eagles (15-5, 7-1 BE) beat Providence 83-75 on Wednesday. Marquette took the first meeting with the Pirates 83-69 on Dec. 27. Oso Ighodaro led MU with 16 points and 10 rebounds.