DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Blue Demons Fall at Villanova
3/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
VILLANOVA, Pa. - No. 3/2 Villanova defeated visiting DePaul, 83-62, in a BIG EAST game Tuesday night at The Pavilion. Eli Cain scored 14 points to lead the Blue Demons while Myke Henry added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Villanova (26-4, 15-2 BIG EAST) hit five of its first seven shots and jumped out to an 11-3 lead less than four minutes into the evening. The Blue Demons answered with seven straight points forcing a Wildcat time out at the 14:20 mark and trailed by a point at 11-10.
Coming out of the break, Kris Jenkins connected on four straight three-point attempts that led a 14-0 run for Villanova. Jenkins finished the night with a game-high 31 points on eight three-pointers.
The run couldn't quite put DePaul away as Cain kept the Blue Demons in striking distance. His three-pointer with 2:45 on the clock made the score 40-32, but Villanova pushed ahead by finishing the half with an 11-1 run to take a 51-33 lead at intermission.
Villanova scored the first seven points of the second half to take its largest lead of the game at 58-33 just under two minutes into the frame. DePaul (9-20, 3-14 BIG EAST) would get no closer than 17 points over the rest of the second half.
Aaron Simpson knocked down three three-pointers and finished the game with 11 points while Tommy Hamilton IV totaled nine points and nine rebounds. Rashaun Stimage also added nine points and six boards for the Blue Demons.
Josh Hart added 18 points for Villanova to follow Jenkins.
DePaul closes the regular-season schedule on Saturday against Seton Hall. The Blue Demons and Pirates are scheduled for an 11 a.m. Start at Allstate Arena. DePaul senior class will be honored prior to the game in a senior day ceremony.
POSTGAME NOTES: Tommy Hamilton IV played in his 90th career game... Myke Henry just missed his fourth double-double of the season... Tuesday was Henry's fifth game of the season with double-figures points and nine rebounds... the 51 points allowed the first half marked the first 50-point half by an opponent this season... Villanova leads the series, 21-8... the Wildcats have won 11 straight games between the two programs.
