NEW YORK -- Daniel Ochefu scored just eight points in 15 minutes, but he played a key role in No. 3 Villanova's 76-68 win over Providence in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Wildcats (29-4) are headed to the title game for the second straight year and are bringing a limping Ochefu with them.

Kris Jenkins led top-seeded Villanova with 21 points and Ryan Arcidiacono added 15 points to become the first player in Villanova history to score 1,500 or more points while logging 500 or more assists.

But it was the 6-foot-11 Ochefu who provided a spark when coach Jay Wright's team needed one the most. Ochefu suffered an ankle injury earlier in the week in practice and didn't start against Providence.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Ochefu responded with some energy in the second. With the Wildcats clinging to a 55-53 lead and its offense stalling, Ochefu restored order with a three-point play and a layup to boost the Villanova lead to 63-55 with 4:12 left.

Ochefu also nailed to free throws to make it 67-59 with 2:43 remaining.

"He (Ochefu) was in pain today," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "We told, 'Daniel get out there and warm up. See how you feel.' And he said I want to try it.

"His adrenaline got going there in the second half and I think the pain went away."

Arcidiacono wasn't surprised by the injured Ochefu's contributions.

"I've seen it for four years," Arcidiacono said. "He's a tough guy. If he's on the floor, he's going to give it all he has.

"For him to make those plays is just big. He's a big-time player."

Rodney Bullock led fourth-seeded Providence (23-10) with 18 points.

Ben Bentil, the Big East's leading scorer who averaged 21 points per game, was plagued by foul trouble and contributed only three points for the Friars. He fouled out with 9:40 to play and Villanova ahead 52-41.

Bentil poured in 38 points the night before against Butler.

"He (Ben) just didn't have a good game," Providence coach Ed Cooley said. "The highs and lows of his life, you know?

"Yesterday, he looked like Superman. Tonight, kryptonite got him."

The Wildcats clamped down on Kris Dunn, a candidate for national player of the year. The junior guard was held to nine points and forced into three turnovers.

"“We played them (Providence) many times the last three or four years, (so) we know what to expect," Wright said. "We had to make sure he didn't see space."

After trailing by as much as 52-38 with 11:35 to play, Providence fought back with a 15-3 blitz that cut the deficit to 55-53 with 6:59 to go. That was the closest the Friars came.

After Bentil picked up his third foul only 12 seconds into the second half, Jenkins nailed two straight 3-pointers for a 38-27 Villanova lead.

A 9-2 run from the Wildcats gave them a 29-20 cushion, their largest margin of the first half.

One night after accumulating 38 points against Butler, Bentil only mustered three points in the first half. His lone field goal came just before the halftime buzzer, cutting Villanova's lead to 32-27.

Ochefu picked up three fouls in the half and, like Bentil, was a non-factor. His mobility in the low post was hampered by the ankle injury.

NOTES: In Providence's 74-60 quarterfinal win over Butler on Thursday, F Ben Bentil became the sixth player in Big East Tournament history to score at least 38 points. Bentil scored 51 points in two regular-season games against Villanova this season. ... Villanova is attempting to be the Big East's conference tournament and regular season champs for the second straight season. ... The team's split their two regular-season meetings. Providence won 82-76 in overtime at Villanova and the Wildcats took a 72-60 decision at Providence.