MBB Minute: UConn led wire-to-wire in a win over No. 13/15 at Madison Square Garden, while DePaul used a strong second half to push past Georgia Tech at the Emerald Coast Classic. Butler and Xavier were also victorious on Friday.
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UConn 74, Illinois 61 -
Box Score
The Huskies never trailed, earning their second win over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 13/15 Illinois, 74-61, at Madison Square Garden. UConn's strong defensive effort held the Illini nearly 35 points under its season average. Solo Ball led UConn with 15 points, while Alex Karaban added 12 points and nine boards. Malachi Smith returned to NYC to deliver 14 points and nine assists off the bench.
DePaul 75, Georgia Tech 61 -
Box Score
Layden Blocker scored 18 points and Brandon Maclin had 16 as DePaul advanced to the title game of the Emerald Coast Classic with a win over Georgia Tech. Trailing by seven at the break, the Blue Demons scored the first eight points of the second half and began to dial up the pressure on both ends of the floor. The Blue Demons connected on 60% of its field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes - including 7-of-8 to close the game on a 14-2 run.
Butler 94,Wright State 69 -
Box Score
Michael Ajayi and Finley Bizjack each had 20 as Butler used a dominant second half to dispatch Wright State at home. Ajayi grabbed eight rebounds, snapping his streak of six straight games with a double-double. After a slow start in the opening frame - trailing 32-29 at the break - the Bulldogs scored 65 points in the second half, making nearly 66% of its shot attempts. Yohan Traore was 6-for-6 from the floor, good for a season-high 16 points.
Xavier 88, Texas A&M-CC 67 -
Box Score
Xavier used an 11-0 run midway through the first half, and a 10-0 run to start the second, en route to a 21-point home win. Four players tallied double-digits, led by 14 points by Jovan Milicevic. Filip Borovicanin finished with a double-double, recording 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The Musketeers made 12 3-pointers - the fourth consecutive game with at least 11 trifectas.
Miami 78,
Georgetown 65 - Box Score
Georgetown trailed early but used a 16-4 run late to get within 10 of Miami at the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Fla. The Hoyas corralled 17 offensive rebounds, led by four from Caleb Williams. He led the Hoyas with 23 points, connecting on 5-of-10 from the perimeter. Malik Mack had 16 points and seven assists, while KJ Lewis added 11.
Florida 90,
Providence 78 -
Box Score
Ryan Mela led four Friars in double figures, with 17 points and eight rebounds. It was a back-and-forth first half before a late 9-1 Florida run put the Gators up for good. Providence got within eight points in the second half but could get no closer. Jaylin Sellers had 14 points, while Corey Floyd Jr. added 12 and Stefan Vaaks 10.
Oklahoma 75,
Marquette 74 -
Box Score
Marquette used a late 10-3 push to tie the game at 72-72 with 58 seconds remaining but fell to Oklahoma in Chicago. Chase Ross and Nigel James Jr. each had 21 points to lead the Golden Eagles. MU led by as many as 11 in the second half before an extended 28-12 push by OU gave the Sooners a 69-62 advantage with 3:37 to play. Royce Parham scored a season-best 13 points off the bench.
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Just one game on the schedule in the BIG EAST on Saturday, as
DePaul looks to capture the Emerald Coast Classic title in Destin, Fla. The Blue Demons take on LSU at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
CBS Sports Network
DePaul vs. LSU - 7 p.m. ET
Alex DelBarrio (pxp); Mike O'Donnell (analyst)