Providence opened league play with six losses in a row, but a win Wednesday against No. 8 Villanova made it two consecutive against ranked teams for the Friars. Six top 25 games dotted the night's slate.
Marshon Brooks scored 20 points and Providence upset a ranked team for the second time in five days, beating Villanova.
The Friars had gone 51 weeks and 17 games without a Big East victory before beating No. 19 Louisville 72-67 on Saturday but now have won two consecutive conference games. They never trailed in this one and the Wildcats couldn't mount a serious comeback.
Providence (13-8, 2-6 Big East) led 34-25 at halftime and stretched the margin to as many as 18 points on a 3-pointer by Bryce Cotton that made the score 74-56 with 2:50 left.
Villanova (17-3, 5-2) was led by Maalik Wayns with 18 points and Antonio Pena with 17.
No. 9 BYU 71, No. 4 San Diego State 58
Jimmer Fredette scored 43 points and ninth-ranked BYU beat No. 4 San Diego State 71-58 before a frenzied crowd Wednesday night, handing the Aztecs their first defeat of the season.
No. 7
Tristan Thompson scored all 14 of his points in the second half, Jordan Hamilton added 12 points and 11 rebounds and No. 7 Texas beat Oklahoma State 61-46 Wednesday night as the Cowboys marked the 10-year anniversary of a plane crash that killed 10 people with ties to the basketball program.
No. 16
Blake Hoffarber scored 20 points while playing point guard in place of Al Nolen, Trevor Mbakwe rammed his way to 18 points and 14 rebounds, and
No. 21 Georgetown
Hollis Thompson responded to his benching with 15 points and six rebounds, and Georgetown returned home to a snowbound nation's capital with a win against St. John's.
No. 23 Louisville 55,
Peyton Siva hit a twisting layup with 4.5 seconds remaining to lift Louisville against undermanned