Collin Gillespie scored 20 points, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 17 points and 11 rebounds and No. 10 Villanova pulled away for a 68-60 victory over visiting UConn on Saturday.
Justin Moore and Jermaine Samuels contributed 11 points apiece for the Wildcats, who improved to 14-3 overall and 9-2 in the Big East.
James Bouknight led UConn with 21 points and 10 rebounds while R.J. Cole added 10 points.
Tyrese Martin had nine points and 11 rebounds and Isaiah Whaley chipped in with four blocked shots for the Huskies (10-6, 7-6), who had their two-game winning streak snapped.
UConn went through a stretch of more than six minutes without a field goal and the Wildcats took advantage. Moore's basket extended their lead to 57-47.
The Huskies crept within 60-55 when Adama Sanogo scored in the lane with 2:03 left in the second half. But Gillespie responded with a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired for a 63-55 advantage with 1:29 remaining.
Bouknight, in just his second game back following elbow surgery, scored 10 quick points but landed on the same elbow with 13:30 left in the first half. Bouknight returned a couple of minutes later and didn't appear to be wincing in pain.
Villanova led 23-21 with 8:01 remaining Thanks in large part to a pair of 3-pointers from Robinson-Earl.
Gillespie hit a tough shot in the lane with 2:40 to go for a 30-29 advantage.
There were eight lead changes in the first half as the Wildcats took a 34-32 lead.
Bouknight paced the Huskies with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor.
Whaley grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to close UConn within one at 37-36 with 16:28 remaining in the second.
The game became a bit choppy with missed shots and turnovers on both sides, but the Wildcats eked out a 45-42 lead with 12:32 left.
After sweeping a difficult offensive rebound, Robinson-Earl was fouled and dropped in a pair of free throws with 9:10 to go for a 49-45 Villanova advantage.
Bouknight made two free throws with 6:39 remaining and the Huskies stayed close, trailing 53-47.
--Field Level Media
Connecticut | Villanova | |
James Bouknight 21 | Scoring | Collin Gillespie 20 |
R.J. Cole 2 | Assists | Cole Swider 3 |
Tyrese Martin 11 | Rebounds | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 11 |
James Bouknight 4 | Free Throws Made | Jermaine Samuels 7 |
James Bouknight 1 | Steals | Jermaine Samuels 3 |
Isaiah Whaley 4 | Blocks | Justin Moore 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Connecticut | 60 | 36.4 | 7-27 | 13-19 | 8 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
Villanova | 68 | 41.5 | 5-22 | 19-26 | 10 | 30 | 1 | 7 | 8 |