Standings | Stats
 
MBB Minute – Ten of the 11 BIG EAST teams were in action Saturday with only first-place Marquette idle. The day ended with UConn and St. John’s tied for second place and three of the five road teams returning home with a win.
 
No. 9 UConn pulled away in the second half and posted a 68-60 victory over Georgetown before 17,168 fans at Capital One Arena. Alex Karaban led the Huskies (13-4, 5-1 BIG EAST) with a game-high 19 points. UConn used a 17-2 spurt in the second half to take control. The Hoyas (12-4, 3-2) were led by Curtis Williams Jr., who had 15 points.
 
After 18 lead changes, St. John’s closed with a 14-3 run in the final 2:05 and defeated Villanova 80-68 before 18,178 at Madison Square Garden. RJ Luis Jr. poured in 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, both game highs. The Johnnies (14-3, 5-1) are 5-1 in the BIG EAST for the first time since 2000-01. Wooga Poplar had 22 points for the Wildcats (11-6, 4-2). Eric Dixon finished with 18.
 
Providence rode Bensley Joseph’s production to a 91-85 win against visiting Seton Hall before a sellout 12,193 at the AMP. Joseph, who did not start, scored 28 points for the Friars (9-8, 3-3) while shooting 7-of-9 from 3-point range. Oswin Erhunmwonse added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.  Isaiah Coleman led the Pirates (6-10, 1-4) with a career-high 26 points, his sixth 20-point game this season.
 
Creighton (10-6, 3-2) had Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal combine for 62 points in a 80-76 win at Butler (7-10, 0-6). Kalkbrenner had 26 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Steven Ashworth just missed a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Neal finished with 14 points. Butler (7-10, 0-6) was led by Patrick McCaffery’s 21 points.
 
Xavier closed the first half with a 21-3 run in a 77-63 victory at DePaul. Zach Freemantle posted his fifth double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Conwell helped with 19 points for the Musketeers (4-8, 0-6). CJ Gunn led the Blue Demons (9-8, 0-6) with 16 points and seven rebounds. 
 
The BIG EAST schedule is dark until Tuesday.