Overview
 
The Villanova Wildcats used a 16-1 burst to open the second half to break open a tight battle on their way to a 66-51 win over Georgetown in BIG EAST action Wednesday night at Finneran Pavilion.
 
After converting 8-of-31 field goal attempts in the first 20 minutes (.258), the Wildcats used their defense to create offense after intermission. Villanova ended the night with a 20-5 edge in points off turnovers and sank .571 of its second half field goal attempts.
 
"All we talked about at halftime," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, "is that this is Big East play. They're a good, physical, defensive team. It's not going to be easy. That's really all the (halftime) message is. We're cleaning up what we're struggling with defensively.
 
"We watch film and see where we made our mistakes."
 
Tyler Perkins led the Wildcats with 16 points while Acaden Lewis added 15 points and a season-high seven rebounds.
 
Honoring Coach Rav
 
Prior to the game, Nike and Villanova presented a special screening of "UnRaveling George", the documentary film detailing the extraordinary life of Raveling, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer who died in September at the age of 88. Raveling starred for the Wildcats and coach Alexander Severance from 1957-60 and remained a loyal alumnus for the rest of his life.
 
The chairback seats inside Finneran Pavilion were adorned with a special broadsheet newspaper highlighting some of Raveling's favorite life lessons. Raveling, who began a decorated coaching career as an aide to Jack Kraft at Villanova in the early 1960s, was a voracious reader who often highlighted notable stories that he shared with friends from coast to coast.
 
Mark Raveling, George's son, was among those inside Finneran Pavilion for this special event.
 
D Dominated in First Half
 
The Wildcats did some good things in the first 8:01, at the defensive end and in transition. That helped them build an early 11-8 advantage despite connecting on 3-of-14 from the field in that span.
 
A 5-0 Hoyas spurt gave Georgetown the lead back at 13-11.
 
The Wildcats mostly held the Hoyas in check over the first 20 minutes, limiting them to 7-of-23 from the field. But Georgetown kept the heat on Villanova, limiting it to 8-of-31 shooting (.258), including 2-of-10 (.200) from beyond the 3-point arc.
 
Perkins led the Wildcats with nine points in the period while Devin Askew added five points.
 
"We have younger guys – Acaden, Bryce, even Perk hasn't played this role before," noted Willard, "and I think sometimes it's just getting used to the physicality. This is a very physical league."
 
Second Act
 
It was a Wildcat blitz to start the second half. Villanova scored the first eight points of the period, helped by a defense that forced 17 Hoyas turnovers on the night.
 
"In the second half, when coaches can't yell the plays out," Willard stated, "It always opens up."
 
Villanova ended the night with a season-high 12 steals. Perkins had four of those and Duke Brennan was credited with three takeaways. Brennan also added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. And Lewis was again a major factor for Nova.
 
"I put a lot on Acaden's plate," Willard said. "He's done a phenomenal job. One of the things I am trying to get him to understand as a point guard is that when he brings the ball up, everybody is looking at him. I thought he did a phenomenal job tonight of pressuring them. His body language and everything else transformed everybody else."
 
What They Said
 
Willard on the night's honoring of Raveling: "I think the good thing is that these guys (players) learned who Coach was. I asked the whole team before how many knew of (Coach)? I think one or two did. When you think about when they were born, it makes sense. Coach played here in the late 50s.
 
"What I tried to explain was that, yes, he was a great coach and a great man. But he really stood for the civil rights movement. That was his passion. That's what I thought his legacy is all about. These guys may not know it, but now they have a chance to learn about him. Coach Raveling was a trailblazer."