JAMAICA ESTATES – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – After winning all four games on Saturday, BIG EAST teams own a collective 38-4 record, including a 4-1 mark against teams ranked in the Associated Press poll.
On paper, Villanova had the toughest assignment, taking on No. 17 Tennessee in the Hall of Fame Classic. The Wildcats held the Volunteers scoreless in the first six minutes and led 35-15 by halftime. Villanova won 71-53 with Jermaine Samuels, Collin Gillespie and Brandon Slater all finishing with 14 points. Samuels added a game-high 11 rebounds.
After a bit of a slow start, UConn got rolling against Binghamton and pulled away to win 87-63. Tyrese Martin led four Huskies in double figures and posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. UConn (4-0) outshot Binghamton from the floor 49.3 percent to 37.5 percent.
St. John’s bounced back from Wednesday’s two-point loss at Indiana to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson 87-74 at Carnesecca Arena. Julian Champagnie and Posh Alexander each scored 17 points. Champagnie had 10 rebounds. The Johnnies (3-1) led by as many as 22 points.
DePaul was trailing Western Illinois by seven points with 14 minutes to play before reeling off a 13-0 run en route to an 84-80 victory. Javon Freeman-Liberty led the charge, scoring 27 of his career-high 33 points in the second half. The Blue Demons are 4-0 for only the fourth time since 1990.
Sunday’s four-game slate has three teams continuing in tournament play and one single game matchup. The day begins with Xavier hosting unbeaten Norfolk State (5-0) at noon ET on FS1 in the final game of a four-game homestand. The Musketeers (3-0) are coming off their 71-65 win over No. 19 Ohio State. Norfolk State won 90-84 at Bowling Green on Friday.
Villanova takes on its second ranked opponent in as many days when it battles No. 6 Purdue on ABC at 1 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Classic It will be the Wildcats’ third ranked opponent in five games.
In the second round of the Paradise Jam, Creighton (4-0) meets Colorado State on ESPN3 at 5:45 p.m. in a battle of 4-0 teams. The Bluejays have held all four opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the field.
Marquette battles No. 22 St. Bonaventure (4-0) in the title game of the Charleston Classic on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. In the last three games, the Golden Eagles (5-0) have trailed by at least 12 points before recovering to win.