Hart’s 37 points key ’Nova rally

NEWARK, N.J. — Villanova coach Jay Wright thinks he has the best player in the country in senior guard Josh Hart. After Saturday’s performance, it would be hard to argue.

Hart scored a career-high 37 points and No. 1 Villanova rallied from 11 down to beat No. 23 Notre Dame 74-66 on Saturday at the Prudential Center.

“He’s as good as any player in the country and he’s so complete,” Wright said. “He will do whatever it takes to win and he has the ability to do it — and at the right time.”

Hart was the only Villanova player to score in double figures. He was 10 of 14 from the field, 3 of 4 on 3-pointers, and made all 14 free-throw attempts.

Matt Farrell and Steve Vasturia scored 18 each for the Irish (9-1), who entered as one of eight unbeaten teams.

Villanova (10-0) took its first lead at 57-56 after Eric Paschall blocked Vasturia’s 3-pointer with 9:15 left. Hart assisted on a layup by Stevenson alumnus Jalen Brunson at 9:09 to give the Wildcats the lead.

The teams exchanged the lead from there until the defending national champions pulled away in the final minute.

Farrell, a junior from Bridgewater, N.J., made his first six shots, including a driving layup at the halftime buzzer that gave the Irish a 41-36 lead.

“It was a blast playing here,” Farrell said. “Last year I wasn’t able to play that much, so I wasn’t able to play my game. I was playing a different role.”

His new one includes being a leader on the team.

“He’s a fighter,” coach Mike Brey said. “He’s one tough Jersey guy.” Butler bounces back: Kelan Martin came off the bench to score 20 points and was the catalyst in two key second-half runs that helped No. 16 Butler rebound from its first loss of the season with a 75-65 victory over No. 22 Cincinnati in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs (9-1), who lost to Indiana State on Wednesday, used 14-4 and 12-5 runs to extend their home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 34 games.

Troy Caupain scored a season-high 22 points for the Bearcats (7-2). AP