DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Blue Demons Stumble at Villanova
1/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Eighth-ranked Villanova proved why it was a unanimous preseason pick to win the BIG EAST as the Wildcats used a 21-4 first-half run to knock off DePaul, 81-64, on Saturday. The loss was the first for the Blue Demons in four BIG EAST games with Tommy Hamilton IV leading the team with 12 points.
Billy Garrett Jr. opened the scoring with a three-pointer to give the Blue Demons an early lead, but Villanova quickly erased the lead and took a 6-5 advantage behind two three's from Josh Hart and Darrun Hilliard.
Villanova (15-1, 3-1 BIG EAST) wasn't finished as the Wildcats reeled off 10 more points before Aaron Simpson ended the run with a jumper to make the score 16-7 with 11 minutes left in the first half. Tommy Hamilton IV followed Simpson to bring the Blue Demons to within seven, but that would be as close as DePaul would get over the remainder of the half.
The Wildcats took its largest lead of the first half at 23 points with just over three minutes left and Ryan Arcidiacono's baseline jumper beat the buzzer with Villanova holding a 45-24 lead.
Villanova extended its advantage to 34 points midway through the second half before the Blue Demons cut the deficit in half for an 81-64 final.
Hamilton added four rebounds off the bench and Darrick Wood chipped in 10 second-half points for DePaul (9-8, 3-1 BIG EAST). Hilliard led Villanova with 21 points as the Wildcats combined for 13 three-pointers.
The Blue Demons return to Allstate Arena for two games next week starting Tuesday against Georgetown. Start time against the Hoyas is scheduled for 8 p.m. St. John's makes the trip to Rosemont for a BIG EAST game on Sunday afternoon.
Postgame Notes: The loss snapped a three-game BIG EAST winning streak... the 3-1 record matches the 2007-08 team for the best start in BIG EAST play... DePaul has lost 51 straight games to ranked opponents (49 against AP-ranked opponents)... Jamee Crockett moved into a tie for 17th on the all-time three-point field goal list... Villanova leads the series, 19-8.
