Overview
 
The Villanova reserves again provided a huge boost in a key BIG EAST game Wednesday night, helping lift the Wildcats past Seton Hall (16-7 overall, 6-6 BIG EAST) 72-60 before a sellout crowd at Finneran Pavilion.
 
Devin Askew had provided much of that jet fuel over the last six outings (15.6 ppg). Tonight, it was sophomore guard Malachi Palmer who offered the lift, notching a career-best 15 points to go with six rebounds in 22:51. It was part of a 25-point effort from the Nova reserves as the Wildcats improved to 8-3 in league play.
 
"This is one of the reasons I wanted him to come here," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard of Palmer, whom he coached last season at Maryland. "We saw this a lot last year. He works hard and has been practicing great. He and Matty (Hodge) have been working hard against each other and I think that's helped them both."
 
Two other statistic columns were illuminating in the win.
 
The Wildcats owned a 37-27 advantage on the glass – Duke Brennan recorded another double-double with 12 points and 10 boards – and limited Seton Hall to 2-of-17 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.
 
Opening Moments
 
Three-pointers from Acaden Lewis and Askew helped Villanova build a 9-4 lead over the Pirates in the first 5:53 despite connecting on 3-of-9 field goal attempts. Reserves Braden Pierce (two points) and Palmer (four points) gave the Wildcats a boost, helping them establish a 15-11 lead over the Pirates at the 11:09 mark of the period.
 
Perkins scored four straight points to push the advantage to 19-11 but the Pirates came right back, reeling off six straight before Bryce Lindsay dropped in a 3-pointer with just under seven minutes left in the half. Seton Hall responded with another bucket and shaved the gap to 22-19.
 
Malachi's Moments
 
A pair of sophomores helped ignite the Wildcats offense over the final six minutes of the period.
 
Lindsay helped get the offense flowing with a pair of 3-pointers. He was later knocked to the floor on a drive to the goal and briefly exited the game before returning late in the period.
 
With Lindsay on the bench, classmate Palmer provided another offensive burst, sinking a pair of 3-pointers as part of a 10-point effort in the period. The Wildcats closed the half on an 8-0 run and took a 40-25 lead over the Pirates into the locker room.
 
"Anytime you can get on a good run going into halftime against a very good defensive team, it's important," Willard stated.
 
Five different Wildcats sank seven from beyond the arc while Seton Hall was 0-of-8 from long distance.
 
Budd Clark led the Pirates with eight points. Perkins topped Nova with 10 points.
 
Act Two
 
Seton Hall rallied from halftime deficits in each of its last two victories, leaning on the BIG EAST's top statistical defense to help it dig out of holes.
 
Clark scored the first points of the period on a short jumper before Nova tallied the next seven points to push the edge to 47-27. Tajuan Simpkins sank the first triple of the night for the Pirates to narrow the deficit to 47-30 with 15:48 left in the second half.
 
That triple kicked off a 9-0 run over 1:49 that brought the Pirates back to within 47-36.
A Brennan free throw broke the streak and then a pair of stops led to five straight points from Palmer, pushing the lead to 53-36 with 12:29 remaining in the half.
 
"We knew how hard they play," Willard said, "and that they would keep fighting."
 
The Pirates kept the defensive heat on, but the Wildcats never saw the lead dip below double digits and ultimately prevailed 72-60.  
 
What They Said
 
Willard on Villanova's second straight win over the Pirates: "The way we play pick and roll coverage, we're OK with Budd shooting jumpers. Our whole game plan was to take away A.J. and Simpkins. I thought Simpkins has been a difference maker for them the last two games. When Simpkins gets down with his left hand to score, he puts a lot more pressure on the defense."
 
Palmer on the scoring outburst: "It feels good. It's been a constant effort to be supportive of my teammates and do whatever it takes to win. If you play defense and do all the little things, the offense will come."
 
Perkins on Palmer: "Like Coach said, he's been great. It starts in practice. He's always been one of the best players in practice. On a consistent basis, he gives us a spark."