Villanova Falls Short in Big East

Villanova came close to a second stunning victory in as many days.

A day after the women’s team ended Connecticut’s winning streak at 70 games, the men’s team -- with five players going all but two minutes -- stayed with Georgetown until the final minute, losing, 46-41, Wednesday in the opening round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.

“The team watched the women’s game in the hotel together and we talked a lot about the great things that have happened to Villanova, like the 1985 national championship game,” Wildcat Coach Jay Wright said.

Villanova (15-15) had 12 players suspended last week for various lengths for unauthorized use of a school telephone access code.

The suspensions were staggered so the Wildcats would have seven players for every game, and starters Randy Foye, Curtis Sumpter, Marcus Austin, Allan Ray and Derrick Snowden were almost enough. Those players also were suspended and will sit out either in the National Invitation Tournament -- should the Wildcats get an invitation -- or next season.

By slowing the tempo, Villanova frustrated Georgetown (15-13) and was within two points with 1:07 to play. But Gerald Riley made a long jump shot with two seconds left on the shot clock to give the Hoyas a 45-41 lead. The loss was the fifth in a row for Villanova and its sixth in seven games. It also ended a string of Big East tournament-opening victories at eight.

St. John’s 83, No. 17 Notre Dame 80 -- Marcus Hatten scored 18 points to lead the Red Storm (16-12) to an upset of the Fighting Irish (22-9).

Providence 73, West Virginia 50 -- Ryan Gomes had 26 points and 15 rebounds as the Friars (16-12) ended a tournament losing streak at five by defeating the Mountaineers (14-15).

Seton Hall 67, Miami 52 -- The Pirates (17-11) shot 62% in the first half in brushing aside the Hurricanes (11-17).

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In other conference tournaments:

CONFERENCE USA

At Louisville, Ky., Jasper Johnson’s tip-in with 3.8 seconds left gave Southern Mississippi (13-15) a 63-61 upset over Cincinnati (17-11).... Reggie Kohn’s seven three-point baskets helped lift South Florida (15-13) to a 76-74 victory over DePaul (16-12).... Tulane (16-14) raced to an early lead and cruised to a 74-52 victory over Houston (8-20).... Alabama Birmingham (17-11) was an 85-61 winner over Charlotte (13-16).

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NORTHEAST

Wagner (21-10) earned its first trip to the NCAA tournament with a 78-61 victory over St. Francis of New York (14-16) at New York. Wagner’s coach is Dereck Whittenburg, who 20 years ago launched the airball that Lorenzo Charles turned it into the winning basket in North Carolina State’s 1983 NCAA championship game victory over Houston.

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BIG SKY

Jermaine Boyette scored 29 points at Ogden, Utah, as Weber State (26-5) won its 17th in a row with a 60-57 victory over Eastern Washington (18-12) to earn the conference’s NCAA automatic bid.