Xavier became the first team other than Villanova to be champions in the BIG EAST’s current alignment after the Musketeers knocked off visiting Providence 84-74 Wednesday. Xavier has claimed at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season championship. The other two Wednesday games both went to overtime. No. 4 Villanova outlasted Seton Hall 69-68 and it took two overtimes for St. John’s to defeat Butler 75-68.
Xavier (26-4, 14-3) can take the regular-season crown outright with a win at DePaul on Saturday. In the Providence victory, Trevon Bluiett scored a game-high 23 points and Quentin Goodin added 18 points.