Hilliard Leads No. 8 Villanova Past No. 24 St. John's, 90-72
NEW YORK (AP) — Darrun Hilliard scored 21 points and No. 8 Villanova rebounded nicely from its first defeat of the season, pulling away from No. 24 St. John's in the second half for a 90-72 victory Tuesday night.
Dylan Ennis added 15 points and nine rebounds for the balanced Wildcats (14-1, 2-1 Big East) in a matchup of teams that both lost at Seton Hall last week. Daniel Ochefu had 13 points and 13 boards to help coach Jay Wright earn his 300th win at Villanova.
D'Angelo Harrison scored 25 for the Red Storm (11-4, 0-3), who dropped their third straight after a promising showing in non-conference play. Second-leading scorer Rysheed Jordan returned from a one-game leave of absence and provided little, shooting 0 for 6 and scoring a season-low two points in 26 minutes.
Phil Greene IV had 14 points for St. John's.
Trailing by two, Villanova took control with a 9-0 spurt midway through the second half. Moments later, Sir'Dominic Pointer picked up three fouls for St. John's in a span of 1:42 and fouled out with 7:47 remaining.
Red Storm big man Chris Obekpa was re-inserted with four fouls, and Ochefu went to work inside. The 6-foot-11 junior, who had career bests of 19 points and 24 rebounds Saturday in an overtime loss to Seton Hall, scored four straight easy baskets as the Wildcats opened a 77-63 lead with 5 minutes to go.
Obekpa hobbled off the court earlier in the second half but returned a few minutes later before a lively crowd at Madison Square Garden, with St. John's fans set on drowning out chants for visiting Villanova.
Jordan, the Red Storm's sixth man, came off the bench following the first media timeout and airballed his first two shots. The sophomore guard, who was averaging 14 points per game, took an "indefinite" leave of absence last week but rejoined the team Monday following his grandmother's death.
St. John's coach Steve Lavin had said after Saturday's loss to Butler that Jordan wouldn't play Tuesday, but then changed course Monday.
St. John's had a three-point lead and a chance to hold for the final shot before halftime. But then Greene was stripped, and Ryan Arcidiacono drew Harrison's second foul as he raced toward the basket.
Players went down in a heap underneath, and Harrison came up reaching for a bruised right knee that forced him out of the game. He returned to start the second half.
Harrison had 16 points in the opening 20 minutes, and the Red Storm went into the break leading 35-34.
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