The loss ended the Wildcats’ 22-game conference winning streak, a feat at which Cooley marveled.
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The Blue & Gray is looking to snap a four-game losing streak, having lost the last two games at home to St. John’s, 65-60, and Seton Hall, 83-75. They’re also 8-0 against the spread in their last eight road games dating back to last season and are 8-0 ATS in their last eight road games versus a team with a winning home record.
Villanova is one of three Big East teams in this week’s top 10. “You lose one and you have to come out and try to get better”.
“This is an unbelievable win for us”, coach Ed Cooley said. “Lock us in the hotel until whenever”. Sophomore guard Alex Louin was named to the BIG EAST weekly honor roll on Monday after averaging 15.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per contest and 2.0 assists per game. Villanova struggled in its last two games. The Wildcats fought off Georgetown by five and Seton Hall by just one to extend its reign over the rest of the conference to 22 straight games.
“We have won a few games on the road where we said, ‘We didn’t play our best but found a way to win, ‘” Wright said. “That’s how we played early in the year, and we’ve been getting better at that but we fell back into that tonight”. “This will help us get better”.
Providence had Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn, and Villanova didn’t, and they were the difference on this day. The Delaware native received eight of 12 votes cast by the BECB staff this week for his performances against the Butler Bulldogs and Villanova Wildcats.
“Coach always says leaders have to step up, ” Bentil said. Leading the way for Xavier was James Farr who had a double-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. “I think it’s what we all hoped”. And holding Dunn to 13 points is not an accomplishment because he had 14 assists. Mullin is arguably the greatest player in program history, and should be a valuable recruiting asset in the future.
Villanova never got closer than one point after that. But Kris Dunn wouldn’t be out done, coming down the court and hitting a transition 3 with just over a minute left to play. “Every player in a Providence uniform contributed”. It was his 11th game this season with 20 or more points. We want go out and play to win and I thought we did. “Ryan makes the big shot and Daniel makes the big block”. “He’s been here longer than Robert Parrish was with the Celtics”. With 7 seconds left Arcidiacono hit a three-pointer off a screen to electrify the Nova Nation on hand for this thriller.
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Villanova had four starters in double figures, led by a game-high 18 from Josh Hart on 8-of-18 shooting. Kyron Cartwright tied his career high with 13 points and Junior Lomomba notched 12 for his best total since November 26.
