Overview
 
The Villanova Wildcats used a balanced offensive attack to hold off Providence 88-82 on Tuesday night at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Devin Asked supplied 20 points off the bench while Tyler Perkins added 15 points, including huge baskets midway through the second half to help Nova hold off a series of Friars' rallies.
 
Villanova built a 46-34 halftime lead in part by forcing 10 Providence turnovers.
 
The Wildcats enjoyed a 34-27 advantage on the backboards and enjoyed a 32-8 edge in bench scoring with sophomore Malachi Palmer provided a huge boost with 10 points.
 
"They play at a fast pace," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, "and you've got to match their pace, even on the road where I don't like to do that. They just get out and go so well. They have so many guys that can hurt you. You've got to take advantage and go right back at them."
 
'Cats Crafted a Lead
 
Prior to the game, it was announced that Providence would be without the BIG EAST's leading scorer, Jason Edwards, due to an injury aggravated in warmups.
 
The Amica Mutual Pavilion is also home to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League and the in-house temperature felt more conducive to hockey than hoops. Both teams struggled to find the range in the game's first 4:17, as the Friars held a 7-5 lead despite shooting 2-of-6 from the floor. The Wildcats were 2-of-9 in that span.
 
Villanova's reserves made an instant impact upon their entry into this one. An Askew 3-pointer was Nova's first deep make of the evening giving the 'Cats an 8-7 edge. Askew and Malachi Palmer put together an 8-0 Villanova surge that included a corner 3-pointer by the sophomore. The Wildcats led 20-14 with 12:33 left in the first half.
 
"My mindset is to come into the game and play as hard as I can," Palmer, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., said. "Whatever happens, happens."
 
A Response Brings a Nova Counter
 
An 11-3 spurt by the Friars' forged a tie at 23. Much of the damage came inside the arc, where Providence was 7-of-10 in the first 11:25. A deep triple by Bryce Lindsay put the Wildcats back on top, 26-23 at the 7:16 mark of the first half.
 
The Lindsay basket ignited what grew to become a 15-4 surge. The Wildcats capitalized in transition, building an 8-2 advantage in that department when an official timeout came with 3:25 left in the first period. Villanova had expanded its advantage to 39-27.
 
A Jamier Jones dunk closed the gap to 39-29 but the Wildcats forced the ninth PC turnover of the period a short while later and turned it into a Palmer drive for two in transition. It added up to a 46-34 Villanova lead at the half.
 
Villanova had 12 assists on its 18 field goals and connected on .529 of its attempts from the field. Meanwhile, Providence was 14-of-25 (.560) from the field but the 10 turnovers helped the Wildcats build the lead. Askew and Palmer led Villanova with 10 points each while Jones finished the half with 13 points.
 
"We were just able to play defense and let our defense create offense for us," Palmer said of the first half.
 
Second Act
 
With Providence pressing out on the Wildcats' shooters, Villanova took advantage with some sharp feeds inside to Duke Brennan. The Grand Canyon transfer scored six points in the first 4:21 of the second half while Lindsay added a 3-pointer on an inbounds play to help the 'Cats craft a 57-44 lead.
 
The game morphed into an up and down affair, with both teams putting points on the board. Providence was 9-of-14 over the first 8:09 of the half and that helped them close the margin to 63-55 after a traditional 3-point play. Most of that damage came in transition with Jaylin Sellers joining Jones as efficient scorers on drives and short jumpers.
 
As the Friars whittled the lead to 63-58, the crowd got back into the game in a big way.
 
Perkins dropped in a 3-pointer near the midpoint of the half to stem some of that momentum.  He then followed that with a short jumper. Brennan later hit two clutch free throws after Providence had shaved the lead to five.
 
The final count was 88-82.