The only game on the Thanksgiving Day BIG EAST schedule saw No. 2 Louisville build an 18-point second-half lead against Northern Iowa before the Cardinals held off a late Panthers run in what turned out to be a 51-46 win in the first day of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.

 

The win sends Louisville into a second-day showdown between top-25 teams as the Cardinals face No. 13/14 Missouri Friday at 9:30 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network.

 

The Louisville-Missouri game is one of four involving BIG EAST teams Friday. Pittsburgh gets things started when the Panthers face Delaware at 2:30 on ESPN in the consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden.

 

No. 22/20 Cincinnati takes on Iowa State in a matchup of 4-0 teams in Las Vegas as part of the Global Sports Classic. The tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.

 

After three games in three days in Puerto Rico, Providence returns to the continental United States and the familiar confines of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to face Fairfield at 7 p.m.