PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Ryan Arcidiacono scored 20 points, Daniel Ochefu had 19 points, and No. 6 Villanova held off upset-minded Providence 74-68 on Wednesday night.
Darrun Hilliard added 16 points to help Villanova (22-2, 9-2 Big East) win its fifth straight.
LaDonte Henton scored 23 points and Kris Dunn and Tyler Harris added 17 points each to lead Providence (17-8, 7-4).
Neither team led by more than six points in a defensive-minded first half.
Arcidiacono made a 3-pointer with 3:27 left in the first half to give Villanova its first six-point lead, 27-21. Kris Dunn’s 3 pulled the Friars to 29-26 at halftime.
Villanova broke open a close game in the second half as Josh Hart scored all of his 10 points after the break.
Hilliard hit a jumper and Arcidiacono made a 3 to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 34-26 with 16:21 left in the second half.
Harris scored seven points in an ensuing 8-3 run to pull Providence with three less than 3 minutes later.
However, Hart made two 3s and Ochefu scored five points during an 11-0 run that stretched the lead to 48-34 with 8:16 left. The Wildcats led by at least six until Dunn had a layup and Henton made a 3 to pull Providence to 73-68 with 8 seconds remaining.
TIP-INS
Villanova: Ochefu shot 7 for 7 from the field and also had nine rebounds. … Hart missed a 3 in the first half, his only attempted field goal in the opening period. He was 2 for 2 from the field and 4 for 6 on free throws in the second half.
Providence: Henton wound up scoring 20 or more points for the 13th time. He’s now scored 2,002 points in his career and ranks sixth all-time on the Friars’ scoring list.
UP NEXT
Villanova: At Butler on Saturday.
Providence: Hosts Seton Hall on Saturday.
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