MBB Minute: Providence and Villanova used strong second half surges to earn wins on the road, while DePaul won a back-and-forth affair at home in Saturday's BIG EAST action.  A pair of games are scheduled for Sunday, with Creighton traveling to Seton Hall at noon ET and Marquette headed to UConn for a 2 p.m. ET tilt.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Providence 77, St. John's 71 - Box Score 
Providence erased a double-digit deficit with 14 minutes left, using an 8-1 push over the final two and a half minutes to win at St. John's.  The Red Storm started strong, scoring the first 13 points of the game.  But a 17-5 Friar run - capped by a Jamier Jones jumper - gave PC its first lead (25-24).  Jones and fellow freshman Stefan Vaaks proved to be the second half catalysts for Providence, finishing the game with 15 and 16 points, respectively.  Vaaks made four 3-pointers in the second half - including a four-point play - with 2:55 left.  The Friars' defensive efforts held the Red Storm to 28.2% shooting from the floor.  Zuby Ejiofor was brilliant for St. John's finishing with 33 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and two steals.

Villanova 85, Butler 67 - Box Score 
The Wildcats poured in 55 points in the second half, erasing a three-point deficit at the break, to earn a win at Butler.  The Bulldogs opened strong, leading by as many as nine less than eight minutes in.  Butler's defensive efforts held Nova to 1-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc in the opening stanza.  Villanova would score the first 10 points of the second half - and made six of its first seven attempts from the perimeter - en route to the victory.  All five Nova starters finished in double figures, led by Bryce Lindsay's 18 points.  Matt Hodge added 17, while Duke Brennan tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.  Butler was led by Finley Bizjack's 18 points, while Michael Ajayi registered his 12th double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.

DePaul 86, Xavier 77 - Box Score 
Six Blue Demons scored in double-digits, pacing toward their first BIG EAST victory - 86-77 at home against Xavier.  CJ Gunn led all scorers with 22 points, while Layden Blocker added 18 points.  DePaul led 14-7 early on before seven unanswered from Xavier knotted it at 14-14.  The two teams traded baskets the rest of the half, with the Demons leading 40-37 at the break.  There were six ties and six lead changes for the day.  DePaul scored the first seven points of the second half, but X's perimeter attack tied it at 63-63 as Tre Carroll connected from deep with 6:42 to play.  He would lead Xavier with 17 points, while Roddie Anderson III added 15.

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Looking Ahead: Sunday features a pair of BIG EAST games, as Creighton heads to Seton Hall at noon on Peacock, while Marquette travels to face UConn at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

Sunday, Jan. 4

Peacock
Creighton at Seton Hall - Noon ET
Justin Kutcher (pxp); Tarik Turner (analyst)

NBC
Marquette at UConn - 2 p.m. ET
John Fanta (pxp); Donny Marshall (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.