MBB Minute – In a meeting of ranked teams, Xavier established an early lead at No. 19 Connecticut, then held off multiple Husky rallies to score an 82-79 win at Gampel Pavilion. The first-place Musketeers (17-4, 9-1 BIG EAST) opened the game with a 9-0 run and led by 16 early in the second half. UConn closed the deficit to one point four times, but could never grab the lead.
 
Xavier’s Souley Boum scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the second half. Colby Jones added 20. Boum and Jones shot a combined 8-of-13 from 3-point range. Jordan Hawkins poured in 28 points for the Huskies (16-6, 5-6 BE). Tristen Newton added 23 points.
 
Providence continued to roll at home, defeating Butler 79-58. The Friars (16-5, 8-2 BE) have won 12 straight at the AMP and 33 of their last 34. Bryce Hopkins had 16 points and seven rebounds in only 22 minutes. PC’s Jared Bynum returned to the lineup after missing four games with a torso injury. Butler’s Eric Hunter Jr. scored a team-high 12 points for the Bulldogs (11-11, 3-8 BE). Manny Bates returned after missing three contests with a knee injury.
 
Creighton built a 52-39 advantage by halftime against visiting St. John’s and pulled away to post a 104-76 victory. All five starters scored in double figures for the Bluejays (12-8, 6-3 BE), who were led by Baylor Scheierman’s 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Johnnies (13-8, 3-7 BE), who were without injured Posh Alexander, got a career-high 23 points from AJ Storr. The Bluejays are over .500 after 20 games for the 27^th time in the last 28^th seasons.
 
The BIG EAST schedule is dark until a three-game Saturday. Xavier travels to Creighton for a CBS telecast at 12:15 p.m. ET. FS1 has a doubleheader of Marquette at DePaul at 2 p.m. and Seton Hall at Butler at 4 p.m.