Xavier Tops Butler In Battle Of Ranked Teams
Xavier beat Butler in a battle of ranked teams and home squads took four of five contests in the BIG EAST New Year's Marathon on FS1.
The Musketeers, ranked sixth in both national polls, defeated No. 9/10 Butler 88-69 in front of 10,498 fans, the second largest crowd ever at the Cintas Center. Xavier pulled away in the second half with a 13-1 run. Remy Abell made 7-of-8 shots from the field and notched a career-high 21 points, leading five XU players in double figures. Butler's Roosevelt Jones was one of four Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points. Kellen Dunham added 13 points, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Xavier shot 56.4 percent from the floor.
No. 16/16 Villanova connected on 68.0 percent from the floor in its 85-71 win at Creighton before 17,375 and a sold-out CenturyLink Center. Josh Hart made 10-of-14 from the field and finished with 25 points. Daniel Ochefu added 19 points and seven rebounds. After losing at Virginia on Dec. 19, the Wildcats have won four games by a total of 95 points. Maurice Watson, Jr. led the Bluejays with 15 points. Isaiah Zierden had 14 points.
Providence is 2-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 2008-09 after an 83-65 win over visiting St. John's at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, which had 12,410 fans in attendance. Kris Dunn paved the way with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Ben Bentil added 20 points and nine rebounds. The Red Storm, which started the game with a 13-3 run, were led by Yankuba Sima's 14 points and eight rebounds. Bentil leads the BIG EAST in scoring with an 18.9 average and Dunn is second at 17.5.
Seton Hall owns a seven-game winning streak after holding off DePaul 78-74 at Prudential Center in the first game of the Marathon. Isaiah Whitehead scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and dished nine assists. Angel Delgado posted his seventh straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Billy Garrett, Jr. had his third straight 20-point game with 20 points and a team-high eight assists. The Pirates are 2-0 in the league for the second year in a row.
Georgetown led Marquette by 19 points in the second half before holding off a late rally and winning 80-70 at the Verizon Center. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored the Hoyas' final 12 points of the game and finished with 15 points and eight assists. Freshman Marcus Derrickson, Jr. added a collegiate-high 16 points. Duane Wilson scored 17 points for Marquette and Henry Ellenson helped with 13 points and seven rebounds.
BIG EAST play resumes on Tuesday with three games: Marquette at Providence, Butler at DePaul and Georgetown at Creighton.
http://www.bigeast.com/news/2016/1/3/MBB_0103161842.aspx
Xavier beat Butler in a battle of ranked teams and home squads took four of five contests in the BIG EAST New Year's Marathon on FS1.
The Musketeers, ranked sixth in both national polls, defeated No. 9/10 Butler 88-69 in front of 10,498 fans, the second largest crowd ever at the Cintas Center. Xavier pulled away in the second half with a 13-1 run. Remy Abell made 7-of-8 shots from the field and notched a career-high 21 points, leading five XU players in double figures. Butler's Roosevelt Jones was one of four Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points. Kellen Dunham added 13 points, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Xavier shot 56.4 percent from the floor.
No. 16/16 Villanova connected on 68.0 percent from the floor in its 85-71 win at Creighton before 17,375 and a sold-out CenturyLink Center. Josh Hart made 10-of-14 from the field and finished with 25 points. Daniel Ochefu added 19 points and seven rebounds. After losing at Virginia on Dec. 19, the Wildcats have won four games by a total of 95 points. Maurice Watson, Jr. led the Bluejays with 15 points. Isaiah Zierden had 14 points.
Providence is 2-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 2008-09 after an 83-65 win over visiting St. John's at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, which had 12,410 fans in attendance. Kris Dunn paved the way with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Ben Bentil added 20 points and nine rebounds. The Red Storm, which started the game with a 13-3 run, were led by Yankuba Sima's 14 points and eight rebounds. Bentil leads the BIG EAST in scoring with an 18.9 average and Dunn is second at 17.5.
Seton Hall owns a seven-game winning streak after holding off DePaul 78-74 at Prudential Center in the first game of the Marathon. Isaiah Whitehead scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and dished nine assists. Angel Delgado posted his seventh straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Billy Garrett, Jr. had his third straight 20-point game with 20 points and a team-high eight assists. The Pirates are 2-0 in the league for the second year in a row.
Georgetown led Marquette by 19 points in the second half before holding off a late rally and winning 80-70 at the Verizon Center. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored the Hoyas' final 12 points of the game and finished with 15 points and eight assists. Freshman Marcus Derrickson, Jr. added a collegiate-high 16 points. Duane Wilson scored 17 points for Marquette and Henry Ellenson helped with 13 points and seven rebounds.
BIG EAST play resumes on Tuesday with three games: Marquette at Providence, Butler at DePaul and Georgetown at Creighton.
http://www.bigeast.com/news/2016/1/3/MBB_0103161842.aspx
