PROVIDENCE, R.I. ? Roy Hibbert had 18 points inside, Jonathan Wallace added 14 from the outside and No. 12 Georgetown beat Providence 68-58 on Monday.

The Hoyas (21-4, 11-3 Big East) came in having lost two of three games and they struggled against Providence’s 2-3 zone for the opening half and first 5 minutes of the second half.

Then came a three-point barrage led by Wallace as Georgetown hit five from behind the arc in a 17-2 run that gave the Hoyas a 52-43 lead.

Weyinmi Efejuku had 25 points for the Friars (13-13, 4-10), who have lost four straight and eight of nine. Providence came into the game tied for 13th in the Big East and only the top 12 teams advance to next month’s conference tournament.

No. 10 Xavier 81, Rhode Island 77

South Kingstown, R.I. – Josh Duncan scored 23 points, B.J. Raymond added 14 and Xavier overcame a furious second-half run to hold off Rhode Island.

The victory was Xavier’s eighth straight and the 14th in its last 15 games, helping the Musketeers maintain their grip on first place in the Atlantic 10 conference.

No. 18 Louisville 61, Syracuse 50

Louisville, Ky. – Terrence Williams scored all 12 of his points in the second half and Louisville held off Syracuse.

Andre McGee added 12 points and Louisville (21-6, 11-3 Big East) limited the Orange (17-10, 7-7) to 29 percent shooting to keep pace with No. 12 Georgetown atop the Big East.

No. 23 Saint Mary’s 100, Pepperdine 64

Malibu, Calif. – Patrick Mills scored 18 points, Todd Golden added 15 and 10 assists, and No. 23 Saint Mary’s hit 17 three-pointers in routing Pepperdine.

The Gaels (23-3, 10-1) went 17-for-29 from beyond the arc.