National Basketball Association
Villanova 78, Xavier 66
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 28, 2015
Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Officials:
# Jeff Clark, # Gary Prager, # Michael Stephens
Attendance:
10250
By SportsDirect Inc.
No. 6 Villanova 78, Xavier 66: Dylan Ennis scored 16 points while Ryan Arcidiacono added 15 points and six assists as the visiting Wildcats clinched the Big East regular-season crown.
Kris Jenkins contributed 14 points and made four 3-pointers as Villanova (27-2, 14-2 Big East) won its 10th straight game. Ennis also knocked down four triples and Arcidiacono hit three as the Wildcats went 13-of-29 beyond the arc.
Jalen Reynolds scored 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting for Xavier (18-12, 8-9). Freshman Trevon Bluiett added 12 points and Dee Davis had nine assists for the Musketeers.
Bluiett hit a 3-pointer to give Xavier a 57-56 lead with 8:50 left before the Wildcats began a 14-2 run, moving ahead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Kris Jenkins and Phil Booth. Arcidiacono and Josh Hart added 3-pointers as the lead increased to 70-59 and the Musketeers were unable to make a late charge due to missing 10 of their final 11 field-goal attempts.
Villanova led 28-23 after a 3-pointer by Ennis with 7:21 left in the first half but Xavier closed with the final eight points of the half for a 40-33 advantage at the break. The Musketeers led by nine early in the second half before the Wildcats chipped away at the lead and eventually moved ahead at 53-52 on Darrun Hilliard II’s jumper with 10:18 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: F Daniel Ochefu collected eight rebounds as Villanova possessed a 33-31 edge on the boards. … Bluiett has scored in double digits in nine of the last 11 games. … The Wildcats have won 20 of the past 24 meetings.
Top Game Performances
Villanova |
|
Xavier |
Dylan Ennis 16 |
Scoring |
Jalen Reynolds 15 |
Ryan Arcidiacono 6 |
Assists |
Dee Davis 9 |
Daniel Ochefu 8 |
Rebounds |
Matt Stainbrook 7 |
Phil Booth 3 |
Free Throws Made |
Myles Davis 3 |
Darrun Hilliard 2 |
Steals |
Myles Davis 2 |
Dylan Ennis 2 |
Blocks |
Matt Stainbrook 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Villanova
|
78 |
44.3 |
13-29 |
11-15 |
20 |
31 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
Xavier
|
66 |
46.2 |
8-22 |
10-11 |
19 |
28 |
4 |
6 |
14 |