Standings | Stats
 
MBB Minute – BIG EAST teams compiled a 3-1 record Friday with Xavier, Villanova and Marquette all getting their weekends off to happy starts. Butler absorbed a two-point loss. All four teams played at home.
 
Xavier closed the first half with a 21-8 run en route to a 94-80 victory against IU-Indianapolis. The Musketeers (2-0) were led by Ryan Conwell’s 19 points. Zach Freemantle and Dayvion McKnight each added 17 points. Xavier shot 79.2 percent from the floor in the second half. Freemantle is averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games.
 
No. 18 Marquette closed its game against George Mason with a 16-2 run in an 82-63 victory. The game was played on campus at the Al McGuire Center. David Joplin (27 points) and Kam Jones (24) combined for 51 points. Joplin had 19 points and 10 boards in the second half.
 
Villanova bounced back from Wednesday’s loss to Columbia with a stifling defensive effort that produced a 91-54 win over NJIT. The Wildcats (2-1) had a 21-0 edge in points off turnovers and a 29-12 advantage in bench points.  Eric Dixon finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Butler overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to tie its game against Austin Peay  with 1:07 to play, but dropped a 68-66 decision. Patrick McCaffery notched 23 points for the Bulldogs (1-1).
 
All five games on Saturday will be played consecutively on FS2. The action starts with Fordham at Seton Hall at noon ET followed by Quinnipiac at St. John’s (2 p.m.), Fairfield at Georgetown (4 p.m.), Stonehill at Providence (6 p.m.) and New Hampshire at UConn (8 p.m.).