NCAA News Wire
Villanova 87, Marquette 76
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
MILWAUKEE — Guard Darrun Hilliard scored 17 points and guard Ryan Arcidiacono had 16 as No. 6 Villanova held off Marquette 87-76 on Saturday at Bradley Center.
Winners of seven in a row coming into the game, Villanova (25-2, 12-2 Big East) led by double digits for most of the second half against a Golden Eagles team that had lost eight of its last nine and had just six available scholarship players.
Up 43-34 at the break thanks to 14 points from Hilliard, the Wildcats opened up the game early in the second half behind Arcidiacono, who hit three 3-pointers in the first 2:30.
Marquette (11-15, 3-11) cut the deficit to 12 with 10:57 left on guard Derrick Wilson’s 3-pointer. Villanova coach Jay Wright called a timeout; but, on the ensuing possession, the Wildcats were called for a five-second violation. Forward Steve Taylor’s layup capped a 9-0 run for Marquette and made it a 10-point game with 10 minutes to play.
Villanova answered with two quick buckets, but Marquette got to within 10 three more times and was down just nine with 1:06 to play.
But the shorthanded Golden Eagles were stifled by foul trouble down the stretch. Forward Sandy Cohen, guard JuJaun Johnson and center Luke Fischer all played the final five minutes with four fouls each.
Cohen fouled out with 1:37 left and Fischer was charged with his fifth at the 37-second mark.
The Wildcats took advantage of those opportunities, hitting 28 of 36 (77.8 percent) from the free-throw line. That effort complemented a 47.1 percent effort from the field (24 of 51), including 11 of 21 on 3-point attempts.
Johnson led Marquette with 20 points. Fischer added 17 and guard Duane Wilson had 15 for the Golden Eagles, who shot 26 of 57 overall (45.6 percent) but hit just 9 of 26 (34.6 percent) from 3-point range and 15 of 25 from the free-throw line.
NOTES: Marquette G Matt Carlino missed his fourth consecutive game because of a concussion suffered at Villanova on Feb. 4. He was Marquette’s leading scorer at 14 points per game and was averaging 17.3 points in 10 Big East contests. … The Wildcats have won four straight meetings with Marquette, including a 70-52 decision earlier this month. … Marquette G Duane Wilson came into the game averaging 12.8 points per Big East game, the most by a freshman this season.
