(16) DePaul 67, (9) Cincinnati 57
No. 16 DePaul popped No. 9 Cincinnati’s thin bubble in the first round of the Big East Conference Tournament, winning its first conference game of the season 67-57. Junior guard Will Walker and sophomore forward Dar Tucker had 17 points apiece to lead the Blue Demons, who will play No. 8 Providence tomorrow. The Bearcats missed 17 three-pointers and shot only 36 percent from the field, leaving the team bound for the NIT. DePaul lost to Providence by eight in the teams’ only meeting this season.
(13) St. John’s 64, (12) Georgetown 59
No. 13 St. John’s reclaimed the lead with less than four minutes remaining and hit 6-of-7 free throws in the final minutes to preserve a 64-59 win against No. 12 Georgetown. The loss dashes any hopes the Hoyas fostered of making a run to an NCAA Tournament bid. Sophomore guard Paris Horne led the Red Storm with 23 points. St. John’s will play No. 5 Marquette, which beat the Red Storm by 14 on Valentine’s Day.
(10) Notre Dame 61, (15) Rutgers 50
No. 15 Rutgers held No. 10 Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody in check, limiting the big man to seven points on 3-of-17 shooting. However, the attention Harangody received freed the Fighting Irish’s shooters, who hit eight three-pointers in Notre Dame’s 61-50 win. Junior guard Tory Jackson led the team with 12 points. Notre Dame will play No. 7 West Virginia in the second round. The Irish lost at the Mountaineers by 11 in February.
(11) Seton Hall 68, (14) South Florida 54
No. 11 Seton Hall wore down No. 14 South Florida in the second half, overcoming a two-point hole at halftime to win 68-54. Sophomore guard Jeremy Hazell hit four three-pointers en route to leading the Pirates with 23 points. Seton Hall will play No. 6 Syracuse in the second round. The Orange blasted Seton Hall 100-76 to open Big East play in late December.
