For the second straight day, an unranked BIG EAST team battled one of the nation’s best down to the wire in New York City. But No. 4 Michigan made its free throws in the closing minutes to hold off Pittsburgh in the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden.

 

Just as Georgetown did Tuesday night in taking No. 1 Indiana to overtime in Brooklyn, Pittsburgh showed a national television audience that it should receive due consideration for a number next to its namesake Monday, when the next polls are released.

 

Marquette wrapped up play in the EA Sports Maui Invitational with a 72-64 win against USC, sending the Golden Eagles back to the mainland with two wins in the tournament. DePaul was not as fortunate, as the Blue Demons fell to Western Kentucky in the Cancun Classic consolation game.

 

Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Syracuse and St. John’s all scored homecourt wins Wednesday.

 

Only one game dots the Thanksgiving schedule in the BIG EAST as Louisville begins play in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. The No. 2-ranked Cardinals meet Northern Iowa at 9:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.