Villanova Beats Providence 78-68
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Hart scored 25 points, Kris Jenkins had 19 and No. 1 Villanova beat Providence 78-68 on Saturday.
The defending national champion Wildcats (19-1, 7-1 Big East) have won five straight since their only loss at Butler on Jan. 4 temporarily knocked them out of the No. 1 spot in The AP Top 25.
Rodney Bullock had 17 points and Jalen Lindsey added 14 for Providence (13-8, 3-5).
The Friars were coming off consecutive wins over Seton Hall and Georgetown but couldn't compete with Villanova.
An 8-0 run to start the second half gave Villanova its biggest lead to that point, 43-31. Mikal Bridges got it started with a layup and jumper, Jenkins hit a jumper and Hart made another layup.
Jalen Brunson and Jenkins nailed consecutive 3s from almost the same spot to extend it to 60-43 midway through the second half and the Wildcats led by 20 at one point.
But Providence wouldn't go away. Lindsey hit three straight 3s to cap a 13-2 run that got the Friars within 66-57 with 5:05 left.
Then Villanova scored the next three baskets, including a nifty, driving layup by Brunson to put it away.
Hart hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring and Villanova never trailed. The Friars tied it at 12 midway through the first half before Villanova went on a 10-0 run capped by Bridges' 3-pointer.
BIG PICTURE
Providence: G Kyron Cartwright scored 12 points before he left the game with a stomach bug in the second half. ... Isaiah Jackson also scored 12. ... The Friars are 2-14 all-time against the top-ranked team. ... They are 38-60 vs. Villanova. .. . The teams meet again on Feb. 1 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
Villanova: Bridges had 15 points and Brunson added 13. ... The team shot 51.7 percent (30 for 58), including 7 for 17 from 3-point range. ... The Wildcats played the second of four games at the home of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, who host New Jersey on Saturday night. They are 15-2 at the Wells Fargo Center since the 2012-13 season. ... Junior G Phil Booth, who led all scorers with 20 points in the national championship game last April, missed his 17th straight game because of inflammation in his left knee.
UP NEXT
Providence will host St. John's on Wednesday.
Villanova visits Marquette on Tuesday.
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