VILLANOVA, Pa. – A career high 32 points from senior forward Jermaine Samuels and some timely second half defense helped carry No. 3/3 Villanova past Georgetown 84-74 Sunday afternoon. After falling behind 67-66, the Wildcats outscored the Hoyas 18-8 over the final 5:46 to claim the win.
 
Villanova improves to 12-2 overall, 7-1 in the BIG EAST, bouncing back from a 70-59 loss at St. John's Wednesday night. Georgetown drops to 5-9 overall, 3-6 in the BIG EAST.
 
"That was a really tough Big East game against a Georgetown team that is playing really well," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "They are really well-coached, so intelligent offensively and long and physical defensively. So that was a good victory for us."
 
The temperatures outside were frosty, courtesy of a fast-moving storm that dropped more than four inches of snow in the area Sunday. Yet both teams shot if well from the field in the opening minutes. Georgetown converted 5-of-7 field goals while the 'Cats were 3-of-4 from the field. Four Nova free throws helped give VU an early 12-10 edge.
 
The Hoyas connected on their next three field goal attempts, including two from long distance, to stay close at 20-18 at the 11:41 mark of the first period.
 
Jermaine Samuels keyed a 10-4 spurt for the Wildcats that gave them a 30-20 advantage. But the Hoyas reeled off nine consecutive points, capped by a 3-pointer by Chudier Bile that closed the gap to 30-29 with 5:54 to play in the half. When Donald Carey sank two free throws, the game was tied at 33.
 
"In that first half, Jermaine just carried us," stated Wright. "We really had nothing else going."
 
A pair of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl free throws with 4.5 seconds left in the half gave Villanova a 37-35 lead at halftime.
 
Villanova held the lead in large part due to the offensive work of Samuels, who finished the period with 18 points. The Wildcats, though, had a hard time with Georgetown's interior size, specifically center Qudus Wahab, who connected on all four of his field goal attempts despite picking up two early fouls.
 
The Wildcats finished the half making just one of its final seven field goal attempts. It was 12-of-32 (.375) for the period. Georgetown, meanwhile, connected on 15-of-28 from the floor (.535) but surrendered eight turnovers to four for VU.
 
Wahab continued to be a force inside early in the second period, scoring seven points in the first 4:31 of the period. Villanova was able to stretch its lead with Samuels and Justin Moore providing offensive fuel. After a Cole Swider 3-pointer, Villanova moved in front 57-49. However, Georgetown's offensive firepower brought it back. The Hoyas went on an 11-3 burst and were back in a tie at 60 with 8:27 left on the clock.
 
Yet Swider's work on Wahab anchored a defense that rose to the occasion in the final eight minutes.
 
"Cole did an incredible job in the second half," said Wright. "He's worked so hard at defending. When you play Wahab, you aren't just defending him but guarding pick and roll and you have to rebound against him. Cole was just outstanding."
 
Swider also dropped in a key 3-pointer with 2:02 left to play, to extend Villanova's lead to 78-71. Samuels also grabbed a key rebound after missing a dunk that allowed the Wildcats to retain possession with just more than a minute to play.
 
"Jermaine," stated Robinson-Earl, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, "was phenomenal."
 
Villanova finished the day with 21 assists on 26 made field goal and drained 17-of-18 at the free throw line.
 
Jahvon Blair led Georgetown with 18 points while Wahab added 17 points.
 
Next up on the 2020-21 Villanova schedule is a Wednesday night appointment at the Finn against Marquette. That game will air on FS1 and 95.7 Ben FM with tipoff set for just after 9 p.m. on the Nova campus.