NOTRE DAME 74, VILLANOVA 70: The No. 25 Fighting Irish, trailing by as many as 20 points, staged a furious second-half rally at Villanova and hit a pair of back-breaking 3-pointers in overtime for their eighth consecutive victory.

Notre Dame (19-8, 11-3 Big East) faced a 39-19 deficit late in the first half but kept its hopes alive with a 13-0 surge late in regulation. Jerian Grant, who finished with 10 points after a scoreless first half, hit a 3-pointer to break a 65-65 tie at the 1:26 mark in overtime and Pat Connaughton's seventh long-range make of the game made it a six-point game with 45.9 seconds to go.

Villanova (11-15, 4-10), playing without injured starters Maalik Wayns and James Bell, outscored the Fighting Irish 28-5 over an extended stretch of the first half, building a 33-15 lead with 4:07 to go in the period. Villanova led 39-23 at the break on the strength of a 20-9 rebounding edge.

Notre Dame was still in a 56-47 hole with 4:26 remaining before scoring 13 unanswered points. A three-point play by Eric Atkins gave Notre Dame a 57-56 edge at the 1:43 mark. Maurice Sutton's rebound bucket with 0.9 seconds on the clock helped Villanova stay alive for five more minutes.

Jack Cooley had 18 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double to help Notre Dame remain in a second-place tie with Marquette in the Big East.

Connaughton and Atkins scored 21 and 17 points, respectively.

JayVaughn Pinkston led Villanova with 24 points but shot a critical air ball from 3-point range after Grant's 3-pointer in overtime. Dominic Cheek scored 19 points for the Wildcats.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Notre Dame has split its last six games with Villanova in Philadelphia. ... The Wildcats shot only 25 percent (5 for 20) in the second half. ... The Fighting Irish shot 12 for 31 from 3-point range, going 9 for 19 in the second half and overtime. ... Notre Dame hosts West Virginia on Wednesday ... Bell, who sprained his ankle Wednesday at South Florida, has also been ruled out for Villanova's game against Connecticut on Monday. ... Wayns is considered likely to return.