MBB Minute – Marquette, Providence and Xavier enjoyed double-figure margins of victory on Saturday with Marquette being the only road victor.
 
The 20^th-ranked Golden Eagles are 8-2 in BIG EAST play and 16-5 overall after a 74-53 win at Seton Hall. The 8-2 mark is MU’s best start since starting 12-2 in 2018-19. Marquette led 37-29 at halftime and pulled away in the final 10 minutes. Kam Jones scored a game-high 22 points, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Oso Ighodaro had 18 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Kadary Richmond had 10 points and five assists for the Pirates (12-9, 5-5 BIG EAST).
 
No. 22 Providence stayed a half-game behind Marquette with a 75-64 win against DePaul. The Friars are 7-2 in league play and 15-5 overall. Noah Locke made seven 3-pointers en route to a career-high 29 points. Bryce Hopkins added 20 points and 11 rebounds. PC opened the game with a 14-2 run and did not allow the Blue Demons (9-11, 3-6 BE) to get closer than four points in the second half. DePaul’s Umoja Gibson reached double figures for a ninth straight game, netting 16 points.
 
No. 8 and first-place Xavier had its offense in gear in a 95-82 victory over Georgetown. The Musketeers (16-4, 8-1 BE) shot over 50 percent from the floor for the 12^th time this season, making 54.9 percent and dishing 31 assists, the most by any league team this season. Zach Freemantle tied his career high with 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Colby Jones helped with 20 points. Georgetown’s Primo Spears poured in 37 points, the highest scoring total by any league player in any game this season.
 
Before the NFL playoffs start today, Butler plays No. 15 Connecticut at noon ET at XL Center on FOX. The Huskies (15-5, 4-5 BE) won the first meeting this season 68-46 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Dec. 16. The Bulldogs (11-9, 3-6 BE) have been led recently by Simon Lukosius, who has averaged 20.3 points over the last three games.