Feb. 15, 2011
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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Reserve freshman James Bell more than doubled his career high with 21 points and No. 15 Villanova broke a two-game losing streak with a 60-57 victory over Seton Hall on Tuesday night.
Bell, whose previous high was 10 points against Delaware and who scored a total of 31 points this season, became the offensive star for the Wildcats (20-6, 8-5 Big East), who committed 22 turnovers, three over their season high and double their season average.
Jeremy Hazell had 25 points to lead the Pirates (11-15, 5-9) but he missed two shots in the final 13 seconds, the second a 3-point attempt to tie with 3 seconds to play.
Villanova beat Seton Hall for the ninth straight time, a streak that dates to 2004, and this was the 100th meeting of the schools and the Wildcats own a 63-37 advantage.
Villanova turned the ball almost every way possible, from passes off teammates' legs to passes that reached the stands to offensive fouls and even two 35-second shot clock violations.
The Wildcats somehow managed to overcome all those mistakes and Bell, a 6-foot-5 guard who came in averaging 1.8 points, was how.
He was 7 of 9 from the field including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He came into the game with four 3s all season.
Jordan Theodore hit a jumper with 10:35 to play that brought Seton Hall within 45-43. Bell hit the first of his two second-half 3s to give the Wildcats a five-point lead, but Hazell hit one of his four 3s to make it 48-46.
Bell's next 3 gave the Wildcats a 54-46 lead with 6:38 to go. Over the next 3:10 Villanova committed five turnovers, including four in as many possessions.
Bell made three free throws with 5:34 left to give Villanova a 57-48 lead. Seton Hall took advantage of the Wildcats' miscues to go on a 7-0 run and was within 57-55 with 2:14 to play.
After Bell's layup and two free throws by Herb Pope of Seton Hall, it was again a 2-point game with 1:12 to play.
With 40 seconds left Villanova turned it over again, this time when Corey Fisher dribbled the ball off his leg right in front of Wildcats coach Jay Wright.
Hazell missed a drive after that turnover and Antonio Pena made one of two free throws with 13 seconds left.
Hazell's 3 to tie was off the rim and the Pirates lost for the third time in four games.
Hazell finished 9 of 23 from the field and he made four of 17 3-point attempts.
Fisher had 12 points for Villanova and Pena had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
