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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.. ââ'¬" Twenty four points from senior Josh Hart and timely free throw shooting by Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson helped Villanova hold off No. 15 Purdue 79-76 before a packed house Monday night at Mackey Arena. The Wildcats improve to 2-0 overall with their second win and as many attempts in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.

Villanova broke a 39-39 halftime tie by scoring 14 of the first 20 points in the second half and held off repeated surges by Purdue, which closed the gap to one point on four separate occasions. Brunson's two free throws with 12.3 seconds left were followed by a defensive stop that allowed the Wildcats to overcome the Boilermakers (1-1 overall).

"This is the first time we've ever been here and this is a really cool college basketball venue," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "Purdue is going to have a great year. That's a good basketball team. That's a good road win for us."

Hart led the Wildcats with 24 points. Classmate Darryl Reynolds added 12 points and eight rebounds while Eric Paschall added 11 points and Brunson dropped in 10 points. Isaac Haas led the Boilermakers with 22 points.

"It's November ââ'¬" we've got to get a lot better," Wright noted. "We really had trouble stopping them on the interior. You just can't simulate that kind of size and skill in practice."

After a Caleb Swanigan bucket on Purdue's opening possession, Villanova answered with 3-pointers from junior Phil Booth and Hart to grab a 6-2 edge in the opening minute. But the Boilermakers drained 3-of-4 from beyond the arc over the next four minutes to build a 13-9 lead with 14:57 to play in the first half.

Villanova then methodically went to work with its trio of seniors leading the way. A Kris Jenkins 3-pointer from the right side capped a 17-5 burst that lifted the Wildcats into a 26-18 lead at the 7:40 mark of the first half.

The margin grew to 29-20 before a Spike Albrecht 3-pointer helped key an 11-2 Boilermaker burst to draw even at 31 with 3:29 go before halftime.

It appeared the Wildcats were set to take a lead into the intermission before a banked in 3-pointer from just inside the mid-court stripe as the horn sounded pulled Purdue even at 39.

Hart's 13 first half points led VU while Reynolds added 10 points. Swanigan paced Purdue with 13 points at the break. Villaonva was 14-of-29 from the field (.483) while the Boilermakers were 14-of-30 (.467). Purdue sank 6-of-15 (.400) from distance. At the other end the Wildcats were 3-of-10.

Jenkins and Hart helped ignite a 14-6 spurt to open the second half, An Eric Paschall corner 3-pointer off an assist from Jalen Brunson was followed by a Hart basket on a fast break and subsequent free throw to open up a 56-45 lead with 15:52 to play in the second half.

Purdue's size and interior strength began to assert itself midway through the period. Paschall picked up his fourth foul ââ'¬" he was whistled for three in the first half ââ'¬" not long after Reynolds went to the bench with three fouls. Swanigan and Isaac Hass helped carry Purdue back to within 58-57 after a Haas dunk as the clock ticked under 12 minutes in the second half.

A charge taken by Jenkins with 9:56 on the clock was the fourth foul of the evening on the Purdue sophomore, who headed to the bench. But a Carsen Edwards drive and converted free throw narrowed Villanova's edge to 64-63.

The Wildcats' made just enough offensive plays in the final minutes to emerge with the victory.

"We basically had to outscore them," noted Wright. "But this was a great experience for us. To get Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Paschall into those types of situations in this kind of environment is invaluable. I think Matt (Painter) would say the same."

Next up for Villanova is the Gildan Charleston Classic beginning Thursday. The Wildcats face Western Michigan at 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2).