By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Butler Bulldogs came on the road and controlled their destiny. The Bulldogs defeated the Providence Friars 75-69 in the Big East Conference Tournament.
Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort were the only two players in double figures for the Bulldogs. Brooks led the team with 25 points. Telfort scored 16 points and added three steals.
As for the Friars, Bensley Joseph led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds, shooting 8 for 17 from the field and 4 of 11 from three-point range.
Ninth-seeded Butler will play top-seeded St. John’s in the first quarterfinal on Thursday.
NJ Benson and DePaul’s Defense Surpass Georgetown
NJ Benson was the star of the DePaul Blue Demons. He led the team with 18 points off the bench. On Wednesday night, the Blue Demons defeated Georgetown Hoyas 71-67 in the Big East Tournament.
DePaul continues to dominate the Hoyas. They are an excellent team for scoring points in the paint.
Benson was the hot hand for the Blue Demons. He made 7 of his eight field goals. Kayden Blocker also had a good game, contributing 16 points while shooting 5 of 11 from the field.
The Hoyas played with effort at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half. However, the Blue Demons responded by playing aggressive defense and having extraordinary playmaking abilities.
Micah Peavy led the Hoys with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. It was a wasted performance by Peavy, but DePaul is on a mission. This is an overachieving team.
DePaul will play No. 2 seed Creighton in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 7 p.m.
No. 8 Villanova Silences No. 11 seed Seton Hall
Eric Dixon took over the second half to put the Wildcats on his back. Dixon scored all 19 of his points in the half. Seton Hall Pirates had no chance from the beginning of the game as they fell to the Wildcats 67-55.
Dixon scored 4 for 14 from the field, including 2 for four from the 3-point range. He was almost perfect from the free-throw line, missing just one free throw. Wooga Poplar scored 13 points and added 10 rebounds for the Wildcats. Tyler Perkins had 11 points.
The Wildcats will square off against the Connecticut Huskies at 9:30 pm.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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