No. 1 Villanova barely avoids repeat of upset by Marquette

MILWAUKEE — Called on to start, Donte Divincenzo supplied Villanova with a lift from the opening tip and never let up.

The top-ranked Wildcats avoided another upset in Milwaukee by surviving an injury scare to preseason All-america guard Jalen Brunson and getting key contributions from Divincenzo in place of sidelined guard Phil Booth.

Brunson scored 31 points despite leaving briefly with an ankle injury, while Divincenzo’s 23 included a key bucket late in an 85-82 win Sunday over Marquette.

The Wildcats (20-1, 7-1 Big East) turned away surge after surge from the Golden Eagles (13-8, 4-5) in front of a rowdy Bradley Center crowd.

A year ago, Marquette upset thenNo. 1 Villanova in another down-tothe-wire thriller.

Andrew Rowsey led Marquette with 27 points, including a deep 3 from the wing that pulled the Golden Eagles within 83-80 with 1:30 left. They didn’t get any closer.

Mikal Bridges beat Divincenzo to an offensive rebound off a missed 3 but fed his teammate under the hoop for a layup with 15 seconds to go and a five-point Villanova lead.

It capped a critical swing that began after Collin Gillespie stripped a driving Sacar Anim under the bucket at the other end for a steal with 49 seconds to go.

No. 3 Purdue 74, Indiana 67 — At Bloomington, Ind., Isaac Haas scored 26 points for the Boilermakers (21-2, 10-0 Big Ten) in their program-record 17th straight win. Juwan Morgan had 24 points and seven rebounds for the Hoosiers (12-10, 5-5).

No. 6 Michigan State 74, Maryland 68 —

At College Park, Md., Joshua Langford scored 19 points for the Spartans (20-3, 8-2

Big Ten), who gave coach Tom Izzo his seventh straight 20-win season. The Terrapins (15-8, 4-6) led by 13 at intermission but were outscored 20-4 to open the second half.

At Atlanta, Gabe Devoe scored 25 points for the Tigers (17-4, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), and Marcquise Reed hit a decisive layup in the closing seconds. Josh Okogie scored 26 points for the Yellow Jackets (10-11, 3-5).

No. 18 Clemson 72, Georgia Tech 70 —

Tom Lynn The Associated Press Villanova’s Donte Divincenzo goes to the basket in the second half of the No. 1-ranked Wildcats’ 85-82 win over Marquette on Sunday.