Villanova cruises past Xavier at home

Villanova fell behind early, but stormed back to dispatch Xavier at the Pavilion Tuesday night.

VILLANOVA » Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart each scored 20 points and No. 3 Villanova beat No. 15 Xavier 7954 on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (16-1, 4-1 Big East) were dominant in the second half in their first game since their five-week run at No. 1 ended with a loss last week at Butler.

Jalen Brunson scored in transition off a steal and Donte DiVincenzo and Hart each converted three-point plays midway through the second half to help bust the game open.

The Wildcats made 15 of their first 20 shots in the second half and handed Xavier (13-3, 3-1) its first Big East loss.

The Musketeers again struggled in a big game at the Pavilion. The teams split a pair of games last season, each winning at home.

But Xavier had lost its past three games at Villanova by an average of nearly 23 points and cooled after a solid start. Xavier missed 10 straight shots and 14 of 15 overall midway through the first half and lost an eightpoint lead.

The national champion Wildcats showed the loss at Butler was just a blip in a season-long tune up toward March. Brunson scored 11 and DiVincenzo added 10 to help lead coach Jay Wright’s seven-deep rotation. Wright has said he wasn’t as concerned about depth issues wearing down the Wildcats because his players are so versatile.

But it’s also why Wright played his starters until the 2:40 mark and the Wildcats up 26.

Jenkins made four 3s and the Wildcats hit eight overall.

Edmond Sumner led the Musketeers with 11 points and they ended a six-game winning streak.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Villanova’s Darryl Reynolds gestures after scoring during the second half Tuesday against Xavier.