DePaul throws scare into Xavier
J. P. Macura scored 19 points and had a steal and a blocked shot in the final minute to help No. 6 Xavier complete a comeback from a 16- point deficit for a 77- 72 victory Saturday against DePaul in Big East action in Cincinnati.
The Musketeers ( 14- 1, 2- 0) won their ninth consecutive game and matched the best start in school history by defeating the Blue Demons ( 7- 7, 0- 2) for the seventh time in a row.
Max Strus matched his season high with 33 points for DePaul, which led by 16 points early in the second half but finished with 23 turnovers to aid the Musketeers’ comeback.
‘‘ When you turn the ball over against a team that’s veteran and skilled and can get up and down the court, that hurt us,’’ Demons coach Dave Leitao said.
Illinois 62, Grand Canyon 58
Leron Black scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Trent Frazier added 14 points and the Illini ( 10- 5) rallied from a five- point deficit at the half to slip past the Antelopes ( 10- 5) in Champaign.
Da’Monte Williams only scored three points for Illinois, but he made them count. With the Illini clinging to a one- point lead with 17 seconds left, Williams sank a three- pointer to seal the victory.
Northwestern 95, Brown 73
Dererk Pardon led a balanced attack with 18 points, and the Wildcats ( 10- 5) overcame an injury to Bryant McIntosh and a seven- point deficit to pull away from the Bears ( 6- 6) at Allstate Arena.
Northwestern lost McIntosh to an apparent knee injury with 17: 14 left. The Wildcats responded by going on a 20- 3 run to turn a 55- 48 deficit into a 68- 58 lead and pulled away down the stretch.
Loyola 66, Evansville 59
Marques Townes scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half, Aundre Jackson added 18 and the Ramblers ( 11- 3, 1- 1) overcame an eight- point deficit at halftime to topple the Purple Aces ( 10- 5, 0- 2) in Missouri Valley Conference action at Gentile Arena.
Northern Kentucky 86, UIC 51
Drew McDonald scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Norse ( 9- 5, 2- 0) stormed to a 49- 16 lead at the half and coasted past the Flames ( 5- 10, 0- 2) in a Horizon League game in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Marcus Ottey led UIC with 15 points.
Notre Dame 68, Georgia Tech 59
Bonzie Colson scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, and coach Mike Brey tied Digger Phelps’ school record with his 393rd victory as the Irish ( 11- 3) topped the Yellow Jackets ( 6- 7) in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams in South Bend, Indiana.
Butler 101, Villanova 93
Kelan Martin scored 24 points and Paul Jorgensen a career- high 23, and the Bulldogs ( 12- 3, 2- 0) overcame a 31- point effort by former Stevenson star Jalen Brunson to stun the No. 1 Wildcats ( 13- 1, 1- 1) in Big East play in Indianapolis.