Villanova survives in overtime
Mikal Bridges scored 23 points and No. 4 Villanova avoided consecutive losses for the first time since the 2012-13 season with a 69-68 overtime victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday night at Newark, N.J.
Khadeen Carrington closed out the scoring with two free throws with one second to play to finish with 23 points for Seton Hall (20-10, 9-8 Big East Conference).
The Wildcats (26-4, 13-4) never trailed in overtime.
Carrington had a chance to give Seton Hall the lead when he went to the line for two free throws with the Pirates trailing 52-51 with 11.6 seconds to play. He missed the first and made the second.
Villanova called time out with 9.1 seconds to play in regulation to set up a final shot but Donte Di Vincenzo’s three-point shot didn’t go in.
at No. 3 Xavier 84, Providence 74: Trevon Bluiett scored 23 points and the Musketeers (26-4, 14-3 Big East) never trailed on the way to clinching at least a share of its first conference championship. Xavier can win it outright by beating DePaul on Saturday. Maliek White had 15 points for the Friars (18-12, 9-8).
at No. 18 Clemson 76, Florida State 63: Marcquise Reed scored 22 points for the Tigers (22-7, 11-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), who set a program record for conference victories. Clemson had won 10 league games six times in 64 years as an ACC member. The Seminoles (1910, 8-9) closed to 64-61 on Phil Cofer’s three-point basket with 2:58 to play.
at No. 23 Kentucky 96, Mississippi 78: Kevin Knox had 22 points and Quade Green had 18, including eight during a 15-5 secondhalf run that helped the Wildcats (21-9, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) pull away for their fourth victory in a row. Terence Davis had 26 points for the Rebels (1218, 5-12).
No. 25 Houston 69, at Southern Methodist 56: Rob Gray had 19 points to help the Cougars (23-6, 13-4 American Athletic Conference) win for the seventh time in eight games. The Mustangs (16-14, 6-11) have lost seven of eight games since losing leading scorer Shake Milton to an injury.