Providence hangs on, upsets No. 3 Villanova

Providence will need to play its best basketball of the season down the stretch if its hopes to earn its fifth straight NCAA Tournament bid.

The Friars just took a big step toward that goal.

Kyron Cartwright scored 17 points and host Providence withstood several late surges to stun third-ranked Villanova 76-71 on Wednesday night.

Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo each added 14 points for the Friars (17-9, 8-5 Big East), who snapped a five-game losing streak to the Wildcats.

Mikal Bridges had 19 points for Villanova, but fouled out with 1:12 to play in the game. Jalen Brunson added 14 points.

“They just outplayed us. We were ready to go. They were just better,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. “I thought we would have played a little bit better. We didn’t.”

Villanova (23-3, 10-3) cut the margin to 59-54 on two free throws by Omari Spellman with 6:25 left. The Friars then outscored the Wildcats 8-4 over the next two minutes to push the lead back to 67-58.

Providence has five games remaining, including a trip to fourth-ranked Xavier.

Providence head coach Ed Cooley said he’s comfortable flying under the radar for now.

“We don’t want to be talked about,” he said. “We’re the little red engine just trying to come up the street.”

#4 Xavier 102, Seton Hall 90: Trevon Bluiett followed his worst shooting performance of the season with a 37-point effort as the Musketeers won in Cincinnati to secure first place in the Big East. Xavier (24-3, 12-2) has won nine in a row heading into its game against Villanova on Saturday at the Cintas Center. Xavier leads the league by 1½ games over the Wildcats. Myles Powell scored a career-high 30 points for the Pirates. Seton Hall (17-9, 6-7) has dropped a season-high four in a row.

#10 Auburn 76, Kentucky 66: Bryce Brown returned from a shoulder injury to score 18 points in leading the host Tigers (23-3, 11-2 SEC). The Wildcats (17-9, 6-7) lost their fourth straight.

Florida State 81, #11 Clemson 79: In Tallahassee, Fla., Phil Cofer scored 17 points, Trent Forrest added 16 and the Seminoles (18-8, 7-7 ACC) rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half. Florida State didn’t take its first lead until 1:05 left in overtime when Forrest made a layup to go up 75-74. Marcquise Reed scored 23 points for the Tigers (20-5, 9-4).

#12 Duke 74, Virginia Tech 52: Grayson Allen scored 25 points and matched a career high with seven three-pointers as the host Blue Devils (21-5, 9-4 ACC) won without Marvin Bagley III (right knee sprain).

#22 Michigan 74, Iowa 59: Duncan Robinson scored 18 points as the host Wolverines (21-7, 10-5 Big Ten) won for the fourth time in five games. Luka Garza scored 22 points to pace the Hawkeyes (12-16, 3-12).

#24 Nevada 77, Boise State 72: Kendall Stephens and Caleb Martin each scored 21 points as the Wolf Pack (22-5, 11-2) prevented the host Broncos (20-6, 10-4) from taking first place in the Mountain West. Lexus Williams had 15 points as all Boise State starters scored in double figures.

Fresno State 77, San Jose State 57: Jaron Hopkins scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as the visiting Bulldogs (18-8, 8-5 Mountain West) took control. Keith Fisher had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Spartans (3-21, 0-13), up 32-31 at halftime.

WOMEN

#6 Texas 87, Texas Tech 72: In Austin, Texas, Brooke McCarty and Joyner Holmes each scored 13 points to help the Longhorns (21-4, 12-2 Big 12) beat Texas Tech for the 10th straight time. The Red Raiders (7-18, 1-13 Big 12) have lost seven in a row.

Fresno State 81, San Jose State 71: Taylor Turney’s 22 points led all scorers but the visiting Spartans (6-18, 3-10 Mountain West) scored just 24 points in the second half. The Buldogs (15-10, 10-4) got 20 points from Candice White.