DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
No. 7 Villanova Holds Off DePaul
1/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROSEMONT, Ill. - If only DePaul could have duplicated its brilliant first half Saturday afternoon against No. 7/7 Villanova.
Instead, one of the top teams in the country came roaring back in the Blue Demons' 68-55 BIG EAST loss at Allstate Arena.
DePaul falls to 11-12, 5-5 in conference while Villanova improves to 19-2, 6-2.
Billy Garrett Jr. led the Blue Demons with 14 points, eight assists and four rebounds, but was the only scorer in double figures for a team that has four averaging in double digits. Forrest Robinson and Tommy Hamilton IV each had nine points.
After leading 37-31 at halftime, DePaul was outscored 37-18 in the final 20 minutes.
"We played really well defensively in the first half and kept Villanova out of the lane to prevent their penetration and kick out for a three-pointer," said DePaul coach Oliver Purnell. "We didn't have that same drive and energy in the second half.
"It was also our inability to keep them off the boards which gave them second shots. Ryan Arcidiacono (18 points) did a good job in the second half keying their offensive surge."
The Wildcats also made a defensive adjustment after halftime, keying on Garrett who had 10 points and five assists by intermission.
"In the first half, we didn't do a very good job of loading to him," Villanova coach Jay Wright said about Garrett. "He was making his moves quicker than we could get to him. He is so good at penetrating, scoring and setting up his teammates for open shots.
"In the second half, we had all five guys ready to come at him. We were ready to bring the whole team to him."
DePaul did not have a ready response when the Wildcats made that conscious effort to take Garrett out of the equation.
"When that happens, you've got to have other players ready to step up and makes shots," Purnell said. "We got the ball close to the basket but didn't get the job done."
You knew that multi-talented Villanova would come out with a purpose at the beginning of the second half after trailing 37-31. The Wildcats outscored DePaul 14-4 to take a 45-41 lead. A Tommy Hamilton IV layup cut the lead to two.
Myke Henry picked up his fourth foul early in the second half and was headed for a long stint on the Blue Demon bench.
JayVaughn Pinkston's four foul shots extended the Wildcat strike to 18-6 in securing a 49-43 lead with less than nine minutes to go in the second half. Hamilton's swish from the behind the arc off a Garrett pass brought DePaul within three.
Villanova scored five unanswered points to lead 54-46 with 6:48 left. Henry's jumper just before the shot-clock buzzer made it a six-point deficit. The Wildcats came back and extended their lead to 58-48.
"Coach told us a lot will depend on the first four minutes of the second half," said Rashaun Stimage. "We tried to match their energy in the second half but didn't get the job done."
Purnell elected to start with his most athletic and physical lineup featuring Chicago Public Schools stars Garrett, Hamilton, Henry and Stimage along with Crete-Monee standout Jamee Crockett who grew up in the city.
That quintet matched up well initially with the powerful Villanova starting five and led 8-6 at the first media timeout. The combination of Hamilton, Stimage and Henry gave the Blue Demons their best rebounding front line.
A pair of Garrett free throws, a Durrell McDonald corner three and Garrett's step-back jumper sent DePaul on a 7-2 run and a 15-11 lead. That run was extended to 22-14 after a Garrett three-pointer off a nice feed from McDonald.
Villanova closed to 22-17 when McDonald converted a free throw and Forrest Robinson hit a wide-open three set up by a Garrett baseline drive and deep pass back to the arc. That gave the Blue Demons a 26-17 lead, its largest to that point.
This figured to be a high-scoring affair as Villanova had the second-highest scoring offense in the BIG EAST averaging 75.7 points per game while DePaul was third at 72.4.
They were also the top three-point shooting teams in the conference. DePaul led the league converting .366 percent of its attempts and Villanova was second at .363.
After a Crockett jumper gave DePaul a 28-17 advantage, Villanova scored eight in a row. Garrett ended the Wildcat thrust with a free throw.
The Wildcats had come within 32-21 near the end of the first half when Robinson drilled another three-pointer. A pair of Garrett free throws provided a 37-31 halftime lead.
Garrett had 10 points and five assists in the first 20 minutes, and his team shot 45.5 percent from three-point range while committing just four turnovers.
The Blue Demons are back at Allstate Arena on Tuesday to face Seton Hall in a BIG EAST clash set for 8 p.m.
Postgame Notes: DePaul had just one player in double-figures for the second time this season... Blue Demons are 0-2 in those games... the 55 points are the fewest this season... previous was 59 at Oregon State on Dec. 18... Rashaun Stimage made his first career start... DePaul used its fourth different starting lineup of the season... Villanova leads the series, 20-8... the Wildcats have won 10 straight meetings.
