Final Stats | USATSI Photo Gallery

WASHINGTON, D.C.. -- The Villanova Wildcats clamped down at the defensive end Saturday afternoon and went on to post a 55-50 victory over Georgetown (11-7 overall, 4-2 BIG EAST) before a crowd of 15,535.

This was the No.6 Wildcats 21st consecutive BIG EAST victory and sixth this season (16-2 overall). Junior Josh Hart contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds -- 11 after halftime -- while senior Ryan Arcidiacono added 15 points, including six huge free throws down the stretch as the Wildcats held off a Hoyas' surge.

"That was a great road victory for us," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "We have so much respect for Georgetown, the program, and this team. We knew it would be this kind of game (where) they wouldn't go away.

"I thought our defense was really tough today. Daniel Ochefu had a deep bruise in his (tailbone) and then had the flu. He wasn't out of bed until game time. I'm just proud of him -- he really battled."

A Hart steal of a cross court pass on the first Georgetown possession and subsequent dunk opened the scoring for the Wildcats in what would become a gritty, physical clash. The Hoyas got five quick points from D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (15 points on the day) to establish a 5-2 advantage before the Wildcats' reeled off six quick points, with four of those coming on a pair of Kris Jenkins' buckets.

The contest was knotted at 10 with 11:32 to play in the first period when Villanova began to get some better looks at the goal against the length of Georgetown. The Wildcats outscored the Hoyas 16-12 over the rest of the period to claim a 26-22 lead at halftime.

In a pattern seen at Creighton, the Wildcats were efficient from inside the arc while having less success from beyond it. Villanova was 10-of-17 from inside the arc but just 1-of-8 from beyond it. The only made three came on a corner jumper from redshirt freshman Mikal Bridges.

Ryan Arcidiacono and Hart each had six points to lead the Wildcats at halftime while Smith-Rivera led all scorers with 10 first period points.

Hart and Jenkins helped key a 7-1 run for Villanova over the first 6:29 of the second half that helped stake Villanova to a 33-23 lead at that point in the contest.

Villanova pushed the lead to 42-31 with just over nine minutes on the second half clock. But Georgetown's defensive work sent the Wildcats into a scoring drought while the Hoyas began to do some damage attacking the goal. A 7-0 run by the Hoyas cut the Wildcats margin to 42-38 with 5:39 left in the second half.

Hart dropped in a free throw before Bradley Hayes sank two at the line for the Hoyas. At the 4:40 mark, the margin was reduced to three points.

But Arcidiacono stepped up to sink those enormous free throws and Hart pulled down a couple of vital rebounds -- the Wildcats won the battle of the boards (34-31) -- and it was enough to put this one into the win column.

"We knew they were making a little run and we just had to respond as a team," Arcidiacono said. "I think we executed our press offense when they went to the trap. We were able to get open and everyone was able to make some free throws at the end."

Hart's work on the glass was critical too, especially late. He related in the post-game press conference that it was pointed out to him at halftime by assistant coach Kyle Neptune that he had just one carom in the first 20 minutes.

"Coach Kyle Neptune is on us every day about rebounding, tagging, and pursuing rebounds," Hart explained. "He told me that I had one rebound. In the second half (I thought), if I'm not going to score, I'm going to rebound. I knew Daniel was hurt and he was giving us all he had."

"Those two and Daniel lead us," noted Wright of Hart and Arcidiacono. "I think our experience carried us through."

On the day, VU limited the Hoyas to 17-of-52 accuracy from the field (.320).

The Wildcats face Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. (CBS Sports Network and 610 Sports Radio WTEL).

Follow Villanova Basketball on Twitter and Instagram: @NovaMBB