LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- So how does one explain a team shooting nearly 20 percent above its norm from 3-point range in its most pressurized games of the season?

Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono has a reason.

"I think we're taking better shots," he said. "We're taking what the defense gives us while being aggressive."

The Wildcats canned 10 of 15 3-pointers Thursday night, making them an otherworldly 33 of 62 from the bonus arc during the NCAA Tournament, on their way to a 92-69 beating of Miami in a South Region semifinal at KFC Yum! Center.

In upping its record to 32-5, Villanova advanced to its first regional final in seven seasons Saturday, when it will top-seeded Kansas (33-4). The Hurricanes ended their season with a 27-8 mark.

Miami hung with the Wildcats for a half based on its own torrid shooting, hitting 7-of-11 3s and 14-of-21 from the floor to stay within 43-37 at intermission. But when the Hurricanes cooled, they had no way to stay in contact with the Big East Conference regular season champs.

"We've been a very good defensive team this year against teams like Villanova, but nobody shot the 3 and stretched the defense like this group," Miami coach Jim Larranaga said of the Wildcats. "They were an incredible offensive team. We had no way to stop them."

Villanova did it with exquisite balance. Arcidiacono and forward Kris Jenkins each scored 21 points, combining to convert 9-of-13 3s. Center Daniel Ochefu and forward Josh Hart added 17 and 14, respectively, doing most of their work within an eight-foot radius of the bucket.

Arcidiacono carried the load early, strafing the Hurricanes for 13 points inside the game's first nine minutes as he sank a pair of 3s, drilled a contested jumper through contact and tacked on a 3-point play.

"I wanted to be aggressive and set the tone on defense," the 6-3 senior said. "I found myself getting open looks (on offense) and my teammates did a good job of getting me the ball in spots where I could score. It's just a mindset."

The Wildcats led 29-14 at the 8:35 mark of the half after Jenkins stroked a 3, but Miami responded with its one extended run, a 16-2 spurt that featured four straight hits from 3. Guard Angel Rodriguez's driving layup cut the Hurricanes' deficit to 31-30 with 4:33 remaining.

But Villanova answered back with a 10-2 run, capped when Jenkins swished a 35-footer with the shot clock about to expire, that made it 41-32 with 1:06 left.

It got no better for Miami in the second half. Post players Tonye Jekiri and Kamari Murphy landed in foul trouble as the Wildcats attacked the lane repeatedly, getting into the bonus before the half's second TV timeout.

Meanwhile, Villanova cut off the Hurricanes' water with swarming defense that held them to 42.3 percent shooting in the second half.

"We just got on each other," Ochefu said. "We had a lot of defensive lapses during their run. We refocused and got back to what we were doing."

The result: A third straight one-sided rout in the tourney for the Wildcats, who since their Final Four trip in 2009 have not exactly been stout in March. But with precise offense, terrific shooting and quickness on the defensive end, they look like a team which could easily follow up these three wins with three more.

"Our defense in the second half really stepped up," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "We couldn't stop each other in the first half, but we just got more stops after halftime."

Guard Sheldon McClellan tossed in a game-high 26 for Miami and Rodriguez added 13, plus eight assists. But it wasn't close to being enough against an opponent playing at the peak of its game.

"They outplayed us," Rodriguez admitted. "They shot great percentages, but they also got to every loose ball. I guess they wanted it more."

NOTES: This is the first time Miami and Villanova have met since the Hurricanes left the Big East Conference following the 2003-04 season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. ... Miami spent the last 17 weeks ranked in the top 25, topping the school record of 12 set back in 2001-02. ... Wildcats G Ryan Arcidiacono played in his 141st career game Thursday night, extending the school record that he broke on Sunday.