Box Score OMAHA, Neb.– A 52-point second half helped carry Villanova past Creighton 90-78 on Sunday at CHI Health Center Omaha. The Wildcats improved to 13-4 overall, 4-0 BIG EAST and remain the only unbeaten squad in the BIG EAST. The Bluejays dropped to 10-7 overall, 1-3 BIG EAST.
Phil Booth scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Villanova.
Eric Paschall added 21 points and seven rebounds while sophomores
Collin Gillespie (14 points) and
Jermaine Samuels (13 points, six rebounds) made key contributions to the triumph.
Villanova also limited Creighton to 40 percent shooting after intermission and outrebounded the Bluejays 20-12 in the final 20 minutes.
"We have so much respect for Creighton and all of the tough games we have played against them in this building," stated Villanova head coach
Jay Wright. "Any time you get a win in here you appreciate it, you really do.
"(Samuels) did a great job of stepping up. Dhamir (Cosby-Roundtree) has a little issue with his tibia. We can play him but it's sore. Jermaine really stepped up for us. This was a great win in a great building."
Of the 14 total shots attempted by both squads in the game's first 4:23, 10 of them were from beyond the 3-point arc. The Wildcats got 3-pointers from Paschall and
Saddiq Bey to forge an 8-8 deadlock in the game's opening minutes. Two Bluejay free throws from Martin Krampelj put Creighton on top at 10-8.
The Bluejays extended their advantage to 25-16 at the halfway point of the period thanks to crisp offensive execution. Ty-Shon Alexander was at the center of the production as he amassed 17 first half points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 5-of-8 from distance.
But Villanova's offense helped it keep the Bluejays in sight. Seven points from freshman
Jahvon Quinerly and six from
Collin Gillespie over the final minutes of the first half made the halftime count 42-38 in favor of the Bluejays.
Creighton connected on 16-of-30 field goal attempts in the first period while the Wildcats were 15-of-30 in an fairly even first 20 minutes.
The Wildcats opened the second half in a 2-3 zone. Creighton found an opening on its first possession that allowed Mitch Ballock to drop in a 3-pointer. That was followed by a Davion Mintz basket and the Bluejays' lead swelled to 47-38 in the first 90 seconds of the period.
Enter Booth and Paschall. The senior pair ignited a 10-run capped by a Booth 3-pointer with 16:33 to go in the second half to allow the Wildcats to re-take the lead at 48-47.
A Samuels slam and free throw pushed the VU lead to 51-47. In response to the 13-0 surge, Creighton reeled off a 6-0 burst to reclaim the lead before a Booth triple gave the 'Cats back the lead at 54-53 with just over 12 minutes on the clock.
The initial surge would grow to a 15-3 edge. Gillespie and Samuels followed the lead of the seniors, stepping up at both ends of the floor every time Creighton tried to mount a comeback and engage the crowd of 17,379. Villanova outscored the Bluejays 39-25 after falling behind 53-51 midway through the second half.
"We just want to stay aggressive," stated Booth.
A 3-pointer by Paschall with just over three minutes remaining was a lethal dagger.
Villanova's next contest comes on Friday, Jan. 18 when it hosts the second of five games this season at the Wells Fargo Center. Xavier will be on hand for a clash that lists an 8:30 p.m. tip time in South Philadelphia (FS1 and 610 ESPN Radio).
