UNCASVILLE, Conn. – A career high 28 points from Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and stellar defense on Arizona State star Remy Martin helped carry No. 3 Villanova (2-0 overall) past the Sun Devils 83-74 in the finals of the 2K Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thanksgiving night. The win gave the Wildcats their seventh in-season tournament title since 2013.
 
Robinson-Earl was named the event's Most Outstanding Player. Sophomore Justin Moore, who delivered his first career double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds), was named to the 2K Empire Classic All-Tournament team.
 
"I was proud of the guys tonight," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "We had some things we didn't do well last night and I thought they did a good job of locking into the scouting report tonight. We did a better job defensively and Jeremiah was outstanding. There's still a lot for us to work on, but this was a good step for us."
 
Arizona State (1-1) borrowed a page from Boston College's playbook from Wednesday night's semifinal in this one, using its quickness on the perimeter to generate early scoring in the lane. The Sun Devils scored eight of their first nine points in the paint and drained their first four field goal attempts. But the Wildcats were able to generate a balanced attack with six players getting into the scoring column in the game's first five minutes.
 
Villanova held a 16-12 advantage at the 14:30 mark of the first half.
 
Arizona State fought back to a 24-24 deadlock as the clock dipped below the eight minute mark in the period. Baskets on consecutive possessions by Robinson-Earl and Collin Gillespie helped Nova push the margin back to 28-24. Fouls became an issue, however, as Caleb Daniels picked up his third foul while Jermaine Samuels was whistled for his second. Both exited the game for the balance of the half.
 
But Robinson-Earl found an offensive groove and helped fuel a surge that left the 'Cats with a 41-32 halftime lead. The sophomore forward from Kansas City, Kan., scored 13 points in the period to go with five rebounds. That helped the 'Cats overcome a difficult period from beyond the arc, where they converted just 1-of-11 attempts from distance in the first 20 minutes.
 
After a sizzling start, the Sun Devils were just 1-of-9 from the field over the final minutes of the period.
 
Arizona State scored the first six points of the second half to narrow its deficit to 41-38 before the Wildcats answered with an 8-0 spurt of their own. A corner 3-pointer by Moore and one from the left wing by Robinson-Earl made it 49-38 with 16:44 to play in the second half.
 
The Sun Devils scored the next four consecutive points, however, and Samuels was whistled for his fourth foul in the process at the 15:51 mark. But Villanova was in control and never relinquished the lead again. Their lead grew to 17 points with 8:55 to play and never again dipped below the nine point final margin.
 
One key to the win was the work on ASU All-American Martin. The senior was 2-of-8 from the field and finished with five points.
 
"He's a great player," noted Moore. "We really wanted to guard him as a team. It wasn't like one person was guarding him. We all tried to do our best to contain him. We know how explosive he is."
 
Joining Robinson-Earl and Moore in double figures were Daniels (14 points, five rebounds) and Gillespie (11 points, four assists). After sinking 1-of-11 from beyond the arc in the first half, the Wildcats were 7-of-13 from deep in the second half (.538).
 
Josh Christopher of Arizona State matched Robinson-Earl with 28 points. Both connected on 11-of-17 field goal attempts on the night.
 
"This was a team effort tonight," stated Robinson-Earl. "We have a lot of scorers on our team. It just so happened that it was my night. It was definitely a team effort."
 
"J-Rob had it going in both games here," Moore added. "It was special."