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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Villanova 89, Providence 69
When: 6:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Officials: # Doug Shows, # Earl Walton, # Mike Eades
Attendance: 8595
Eric Paschall scored 17 points, Omari Spellman added 16 and top-ranked Villanova overcame a sluggish start to defeat Providence 89-69 Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Jalen Brunson contributed 15 for the Wildcats (19-1, 6-1 Big East). Donte DiVincenzo, Mikal Bridges and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree had 11 apiece, with Cosby-Roundtree setting a career high.

The Wildcats shot 50 percent (33 of 66) overall from the floor and 12 of 29 (41.4 percent) from 3-point territory.

Rodney Bullock led Providence (14-7, 5-3) with 16 points while Jalen Lindsey added 14. Kyron Cartwright and Alpha Diallo had 12 points each, but the Friars committed 14 costly turnovers.

The Friars fell to 2-15 all-time against the top-ranked team in the country. Their schedule doesn't get any easier with consecutive road games looming at Seton Hall and Marquette.

The Friars didn't let a nine-point halftime deficit deter them as they trailed only 44-41 with 15:03 remaining. Relentless rebounding and tough defense seemed to frustrate the Wildcats, and suddenly it was a one possession game.

Paschall came back for Villanova with a rare four-point play as he was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer. The free throw moved the lead back to 48-41.

Even though Providence failed to hit a field goal in a four-minute stretch, it still trailed just 52-44.

The Wildcats scored the next seven points with Spellman draining a deep 3-pointer for a 58-44 bulge.

Brunson's 3-pointer following an offensive rebound by DiVincenzo gave Villanova a 66-50 lead. Spellman then hit a nifty left-handed hook shot for a 68-50 advantage with 7:16 remaining.

DiVincenzo hit a trey for a 78-60 Villanova lead with 3:57 left and essentially sealed the victory.

Providence was aggressive from the opening tip and rolled to a 24-15 lead.

Villanova responded with an 8-0 run to pull within one. The Wildcats got red hot, converted nine straight shots and turned a 14-0 run into a 37-26 lead. DiVincenzo knocked down a short jumper for a 39-30 advantage heading into halftime.

The Wildcats recovered from missing 13 of their first 17 shots.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Providence   Villanova
Rodney Bullock 16 Scoring Eric Paschall 17
Kyron Cartwright 6 Assists Eric Paschall 5
Alpha Diallo 8 Rebounds Mikal Bridges 9
Rodney Bullock 4 Free Throws Made Phil Booth 3
Maliek White 1 Steals Mikal Bridges 4
Jalen Lindsey 2 Blocks Eric Paschall 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Providence 69 37.1 8-22 15-20 11 35 5 2 14
Villanova 89 50.0 12-29 11-15 18 31 5 10 7