MBB Minute: Villanova collects an overtime win in Milwaukee and Seton Hall moves to 11-1 for the first time in 14 years. The Wildcats outscored Wisconsin, 20-10, over the final five minutes to close out non-conference play. The Pirates pulled away late at Providence for their first BIG EAST victory.
Seton Hall 72
, Providence 67 -
Box Score
Tajuan Simpkins scored 22 points and Stephon Payne logged a double-double with 18 points and a career best 16 boards as Seton Hall won its BIG EAST opener in a back-and-forth matchup at Providence. The game saw six ties and 14 lead changes. SHU led by seven at the break and by as many as nine in the second half before the Friars used a 14-6 push to regain the lead with 14:30 to play. The two teams traded buckets the rest of the way and Providence held a 65-64 lead after a Jamier Jones jumper with 1:53 left. The Hall closed the final 1:53 on an 8-2 push for the win. The Pirates' stout defense held Providence - one of the top scoring offenses in the country (91.7 ppg) - nearly 25 points under its average, while logging 12 steals. Elijah Fisher had 10 points and Budd Clark finished with nine points, seven assists, and four steals for the Pirates. Stefan Vaaks led four Friars in double figures with 15 points, along with Jaylin Sellers (13), Jamier Jones (11), and Jason Edwards (10)
Of Note:
- With the win, Seton Hall moves to 11-1 on the season - the best start for the Pirates since the 2011-12 campaign.
- 10 of the last 16 games between the Friars and Pirates have been decided by six points or less.
Villanova 77, Wisconsin 67 OT -
Box Score
Tyler Perkins scored 19 points and Matt Hodge added 15 as Villanova outlasted Wisconsin in overtime in Milwaukee. The Wildcats established the long ball to jump out to an 18-8 lead midway through the first half. Eight of Nova's 13 first half field goals came from beyond the arc en route to a 35-22 lead at the break. But as the Wildcats went cold from the outside in the second half, Wisconsin chipped away and used an 18-6 push over the final 9:10 - including a layup with 31 seconds left in regulation - to force OT. Bryce Lindsay sparked Villanova's surge in the extra frame, drilling two trifectas as the Wildcats outscored the Badgers, 20-10, over the five-minute span. Lindsay finished with 12 points. Duke Brennan logged his fourth double-double of the season, with 13 points and 11 boards.
Of Note:
- Villanova has made 10 or more 3-pointers in seven of its 11 games and is tops in the BIG EAST (34th nationally), averaging 10.6 3FG per game
- The win was Villanova's first in extra time in almost two years - a 68-66 victory at Creighton on Dec. 20, 2023
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Saturday features four games, beginning with St. John's taking on Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta. Butler and Northwestern face off in the Indy Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, set for 4 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
A pair of BIG EAST games tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET, as Xavier visits Georgetown on FS1 and Marquette heads to Creighton in a game that will stream on Peacock and air on NBC Sports Network.
Saturday, Dec. 20
CBS
St. John's vs. Kentucky - 12:30 p.m. ET
Brad Nessler (pxp); Bill Raftery, Bruce Pearl (analysts)
Peacock/NBC Sports Network
Butler vs. Northwestern - 4 p.m. ET
Noah Eagle (pxp); Robbie Hummel (analyst)
Marquette at
Creighton - 8:30 p.m. ET
John Fanta (pxp); Nick Bahe, Jordan Cornette (analysts)
FS1
Xavier at
Georgetown - 8:30 p.m. ET
Noah Reed (pxp); Phil Martelli (analyst)
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BIG EAST Men's Basketball Public Availability Reports
Beginning in 2025-26, the BIG EAST Conference will provide public reports on the availability of student-athletes in conference games in the sports of men's and women's basketball.
Men's Basketball Availability Report
BIG EAST schools will be required to submit availability reports three hours before the scheduled tipoff time. Under the reporting structure, players will be designated as "questionable" or "out." Availability reports will be posted on the BIG EAST website throughout the 2025-26 season: