Eric Dixon scored 12 points and host Villanova clamped down on Providence in a 68-50 win Sunday in Philadelphia.
Brendan Hausen finished with 11 points and TJ Bamba and Hakim Hart added nine apiece for the balanced Wildcats (12-10, 5-6 Big East), who snapped a five-game losing streak.
Josh Oduro led Providence (14-8, 5-6) with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Devin Carter scored 17 with 5-of-8 3-point shooting and Ticket Gaines had 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Friars, who shot just 15-of-51 from the field, did not surpass 20 points until 13:22 remained in the game.
Oduro made a jump hook with 6:45 left in the second half to close the Friars within 56-38. Hausen's tough jump shot from the corner with the shot clock about to expire propelled the Wildcats back ahead by 20 with 5:55 remaining.
Providence trailed 60-48 after Gaines made a trey with 3:01 left to cap a 10-2 spurt.
Villanova then went on a 7-0 run and sealed the victory.
In a defensive-oriented half, Hart dropped in a 3-pointer with 10:25 left in the first half to cap an 8-0 run for an 11-6 Villanova lead. Carter hit a trey from the corner with 9:40 remaining to close the Friars within two.
Bamba drove to the basket and scored for a 17-9 Wildcats lead with 6:07 left.
Gaines responded with a 3-pointer for Providence to quickly cut the deficit to five.
Hausen made a 3-pointer then Hart grabbed an offensive rebound and converted for the Wildcats, who went on to lead 26-16 at halftime.
Providence shot just 4-of-24 and Villanova was 10-of-32 in the half.
The Wildcats went on a 13-0 run to open the second half, capped by Hausen's 3-pointer for a 39-16 lead with 15:41 remaining.
Carter halted the spurt with a 3-pointer to get the Friars back within 20.
--Field Level Media
Providence | Villanova | |
Josh Oduro 18 | Scoring | Eric Dixon 12 |
Devin Carter 4 | Assists | Hakim Hart 5 |
Josh Oduro 12 | Rebounds | Mark Armstrong 6 |
Josh Oduro 10 | Free Throws Made | Justin Moore 2 |
Corey Floyd Jr. 2 | Steals | Mark Armstrong 3 |
Rafael Castro 1 | Blocks | Lance Ware 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Providence | 50 | 29.4 | 7-33 | 13-13 | 11 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
Villanova | 68 | 42.2 | 10-28 | 4-8 | 17 | 33 | 3 | 10 | 5 |