Every time Seton Hall seemed poised to take over, or go ahead for good, Villanova was there with its championship muscle memory, refusing to let this game get away.
Twice in the final two minutes, it was an offensive rebound Seton Hall couldn’t reach. Both times, Villanova converted them into points — on a Justin Moore jumper and two Brandon Slater free throws — the go-ahead points in its gritty 73-67 victory at a rocking Prudential Center.
It was emblematic of the afternoon. No. 22 Villanova owned the glass — the byproduct of Seton Hall being without two of its best big men, Ike Obiagu and Tyrese Samuel, due to COVID-19 protocol — and thrived in the paint. That likely doesn’t happen if one, or both of those players, are available. And so the 15th-ranked Pirates dropped their second straight shorthanded after starting 9-1.this was winnable. Seton Hall had the lead in the final minutes, but couldn’t close.
led Seton Hall with 22 points and Jared Rhoden had 13. Collin Gillespie had 21 for Villanova, which won the rebounding battle, 42-28.Seton Hall’s start to the first half was poor and its finish wasn’t much better. In between, though, the Pirates defended furiously and made enough shots to make up for it. A 13-2 run, which included a pair of Jamir Harris 3-pointers, gave the Pirates a 25-20 edge.
Villanova closed the half well, reeling off 11 of 14 points to go into the break ahead 31-28. The lead traded hands multiple times in the second before the Wildcats took command. An extended 16-6 run helped Villanova equal its largest lead, at nine, with 8:13 to go. Aiken got Seton Hall within one with six straight points, but Villanova answered again, as it had all afternoon.
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