CINCINNATI-J.P. Macura got Xavier rolling with 19 points off the bench, and freshman point guard Edmond Sumner had 19 points and nine assists as fifth-ranked Xavier got the win that had eluded it, knocking off top-ranked Villanova 90-83 on Wednesday night.
The Musketeers (25-3, 13-3) led most of the way in the first matchup of Top 5 teams since the Big East was reconfigured, pulling away at the end against the only team they'd never beaten in league play.
Villanova (24-4, 13-2) was the first No. 1 team to play in the Cintas Center, which opened for the 2000-01 season. The Wildcats couldn't overcome foul trouble or Xavier's balance, losing for only the second time in their last 18 games.
Xavier got ahead by 15 points late and held on with free throws. The Musketeers dominated the boards 42-33.
Kris Jenkins scored 22 for Villanova but fouled out with 8:47 left. Daniel Ochefu also sat most of the second half with four fouls.
NO. 7 NORTH CAROLINA 80, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 68
RALEIGH, N.C.-Brice Johnson had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help North Carolina beat North Carolina State.
Justin Jackson added 17 points for the Tar Heels (23-5, 12-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who shook off a slow start and an early 13-point hole to extend their recent dominance against their nearby rivals. UNC has won 19 of 21 meetings.
The Tar Heels entered this game alone in first place in the ACC, just ahead of No. 12 Miami. This win will keep them in control.
League-leading scorer Anthony "Cat" Barber scored 32 points for the Wolfpack (14-14, 4-11), who started fast but quickly sputtered.
NO. 11 LOUISVILLE 67, PITTSBURGH 60
PITTSBURGH-Quentin Snider scored 14 points, Damion Lee added 13 and Louisville pulled away from Pittsburgh in the final minutes.
The Cardinals (22-6, 11-4 ACC) made their last nine field goals, with former walk-on David Levitch hitting a 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining that put Louisville up for good.
Ryan Luther finished with a career-high 17 points for Pitt (19-8, 8-7).
NO. 23 NOTRE DAME 69, WAKE FOREST 58
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-Zach Auguste had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 23 Notre Dame beat Wake Forest 69-58 on Wednesday night.
Steve Vasturia added 16 points and Demetrius Jackson had all 15 of his in the second half for the Fighting Irish (19-8, 10-5 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Coming off a 63-62 loss at Georgia Tech, Notre Dame hasn't lost consecutive games in nearly two years and swept the season series by shooting 44 percent and hitting 10 of 10 free throws in the final 2:01.
Freshman John Collins had 16 points in his first start for the Demon Deacons (11-17, 2-14), who have lost 12 of 13 with the only victory in that stretch coming against a Boston College team that hasn't won an ACC game.
They trailed by 10 with 11 minutes left before making things tense for a while down the stretch.
WISCONSIN 67,
NO. 8 IOWA 59
IOWA CITY, Iowa-Bronson Koenig scored 15 points and Wisconsin upset eighth-ranked Iowa 67-59 on Wednesday night, handing the Hawkeyes their third loss in four games.
Nigel Hayes had 10 points for the Badgers (18-10, 10-5 Big Ten), whose streak of nine wins in 10 now includes a victory in Iowa City that should help their NCAA Tournament hopes immensely.
Zak Showalter's layup with 1:15 left put Wisconsin ahead 64-58, and a steal and two free throws by Koenig put the game out of reach.
Peter Jok scored 21 points and Adam Woodbury had 18 rebounds for Iowa (20-7, 11-4), which fell a full game behind league-leading Indiana after shooting just 27 percent in the second half.
NO. 3 OKLAHOMA 71, OKLAHOMA STATE 49
NORMAN, Okla.-Ryan Spangler scored a career-high 26 points to help No. 3 Oklahoma beat Oklahoma State 71-49 on Wednesday night.
Spangler, who had scored in single digits his previous three games, made 10 of 13 shots, including four 3-pointers, and he grabbed 14 rebounds.
Buddy Hield scored 17 points and Isaiah Cousins added seven points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Sooners (22-5, 10-5 Big 12). Oklahoma moved into a tie with West Virginia for second place in the conference.
Oklahoma made 10 of 22 3-pointers to win its seventh straight win in the series.
Jeff Newberry scored 19 points and made a career-high five 3-pointers, and Tavarius Shine added 11 points for the injury-depleted Cowboys (12-16, 3-12), who have lost six of seven.
Oklahoma State shot 34 percent from the field overall and 29 percent in the second half.