Editor's note: I've been fighting some sinus issues over the past four days, (I didn't even come close to making it through Missouri at Kansas last night) so I've got quite a bit of catch-up to do. That means my next NIT bracket will come out next week.
Monday's two big games both turned into important wins for the Top 5 teams involved, but how they got to the victories differed tremendously.
No. 7 Georgetown started their game at fourth-ranked Syracuse with a 14-0 run. They lost by 17, 73-56. The Orange picked up their seventh Big East win, so they're just a half-game behind Villanova in the league race.
Second-ranked Kansas had no trouble with Missouri, winning 84-65, to stay unbeaten in the Big 12 heading into their showdown with Kansas State Saturday night.
In other Monday action...
Morgan State keeps on rolling in the MEAC. The Bears sit at 6-0 after they crushed Maryland-Eastern Shore, 93-54. Howard and Bethune-Cookman are both 5-2 after the Bison topped the Wildcats, 67-64, in Washington. Delaware State remains two games behind the Bears, as they beat still winless Coppin State, 63-59. The Hornets have a game in hand on the Wildcats and Bison.
Western Carolina handed the College of Charleston their first SoCon loss, 100-90. Wofford defeated Chattanooga, 78-63, to reduce the Cougars lead in the South Division to two games. Furman knocked off Samford, 63-58. The Bulldogs were without head coach Jimmy Tillette, who is recovering from a seizure he suffered during Saturday's game.
Texas Southern became the first SWAC team to make it to 6-1 in the league. The Tigers defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 70-67, meaning the Lions are now a full game out of first. Prairie View and Alabama State both sit a game back in the standings. The Panthers defeated Mississippi Valley State, 69-63, while the Hornets knocked off at Southern, 77-60. Idle Jackson State sits at 5-1, a half game behind Texas Southern in the standings.
Boise State finally on their first WAC game. The Broncos won at Idaho, 77-67, in overtime
In non-conference action Monday, Southern Illinois sent Western Kentucky to their fourth straight loss, 68-63; St. Joseph's crushed Penn in a Big 5 game, 85-64; James Madison defeated in-state rival Radford, 67-63; and Southland leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beat Great West co-leader UT Pan American, 66-51.
If you don't see your team's score, click any of the score links. You'll find a rundown of all of Sunday's action on the right side of the screen.
For more on Monday's action, visit SB Nation and Searching for Billy Edelin.
A quick look at Tuesday after the jump.
Tuesday's marquee games include ACC, Big East, Big Ten, and SEC tilts, with a great Atlantic Sun rivalry also on offer. T
No. 5 Michigan State at Michigan, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN): Manny Harris will be back from a one-game suspension, just in time to take on the visiting Spartans, the Big Ten's lone unbeaten.
Clemson at Boston College, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2): The Tigers look to rebound from their loss to Duke on Saturday night, while the Eagles let one get away in Blacksburg that afternoon.
Miami (FL) at Maryland, 7 p.m. ET (ESPNU): The ACC co-leaders look to keep the Hurricanes rooted to the bottom of the conference.
Lipscomb at Belmont, 7 p.m. ET (CSS/Full Court): The Battle on the Boulevard should be a good one, as the winner will remain two games back of Campbell in the loss column in a jumbled A-Sun race.
No. 11 Kansas State at No. 24 Baylor, 8 p.m. ET (FSN Regional/Full Court): The Jayhawks will be coming into Saturday's game in Manhattan on a roll. The Wildcats, however, will have to survive a stiff road test. Otherwise, they'll be sitting at .500 in the Big 12.
No. 9 West Virginia at DePaul, 8:30 p.m. ET (Big East Network/Full Court): The Mountaineers should be able to get to 5-2 in the conference, to sit two full games behind leaders Villanova.
No. 1 Kentucky at South Carolina, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN): John Wall and the Wildcats head to Columbia for their first test as the top-ranked team in the country.
Northwestern at Minnesota, 9 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network): This is a crucial matchup of two Big Ten teams with matching 3-4 league marks who are firmly on the bubble right now. Another road win would do wonders for the Wildcats' resume.
North Carolina at N.C. State, 9 p.m. ET (Raycom/Full Court): After beating Duke at home last Wednesday, the Wolfpack got smacked by Maryland on the road on Saturday. Tonight, they can deal the Tar Heels' tournament hopes another major blow back at the RBC Center.
Rutgers at Marquette, 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU): The Golden Eagles should be able to snap their two-game skid against the Scarlet Knights at home.
Seattle at Washington, 10 p.m. ET (FS Northwest/FCS Pacific): The Huskies host their crosstown rivals, looking for a win before they take on in-state rivals Washington State on Saturday. The Redhawks already own a blowout win over Oregon State, the only Pac-10 opponent they've faced to date.
Air Force at UNLV, 10:30 p.m. ET (the mtn.): The Falcons have yet to win a Mountain West game. I don't think that's going to end at the Thomas & Mack Center.
For information about games that will be telecast regionally, like Rhode Island at Dayton, visit Matt Sarz' College Sports on TV site.