VILLANOVA, Pa. — For those putting labels on regular-season games, Wednesday night at the Pavilion was a clear-cut trap game for Villanova against DePaul.
There were reasons that made sense: Winter break on campus. Haven’t played a game in a week. Biggest test of the year coming Saturday against No. 10 Creighton.
But those were all reaches against a Blue Demons squad coming off losses to Wyoming and Missouri State in Las Vegas last week.
Still, DePaul gave Villanova all it could handle.
And thanks to the heroics from Player of the Year hopeful Josh Hart, the Wildcats escaped with a 68-65 win (see Instant Replay).
The senior swingman scored 10 of his game-high 25 in the final 3:06, including a dagger three-pointer from the top of the key to push Villanova to a 66-62 lead with under 9.5 seconds to play.
“I just wanted to be aggressive,” Hart said. “Coach puts me in the position and my teammates put me in that position.”
DePaul didn’t go away quietly. Billy Garrett Jr. quickly ran down court and converted a three-point play to get the Blue Demons back within one. And after two free throws from Jalen Brunson, who scored 13, Garrett Jr. missed a clean look at a three-pointer that would have tied the game at the buzzer.
Villanova did not look like itself for much of the night.
After a sloppy first half — which ended with Villanova ahead, 32-24 — that featured nine turnovers, 'Nova finally gained control of the game following a 14-6 run that gave the Wildcats a 51-39 lead with 16:41 to go. But then they lost control.
The Blue Demons responded with a 14-0 run to get back in the game and take a 53-51 lead.
Enter Hart, who finished with six rebounds and was 8 of 9 at the line.
With the game tied at 56, Hart, on three consecutive possessions, hit a mid-range jumper, converted a three-point play and made two free throws to keep pace with the Blue Demons.
“We’re not easily rattled,” Hart said. “We’re very tough-minded. We’ve been that way for the last couple years.”
“Having three seniors really helps,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. “We do have veteran guys that are not gonna be impacted by the moment or the pressure. We’re really lucky that way.
“I’m always proud of our guys. They’re never going to quit. I know that. They’re never going to be afraid to take the big shot. Jalen going to the foul line. How many times has he done that? Josh hitting big shots. We’ve seen it so many times. I’m never concerned about that.”
What would be concerning is if the Wildcats play this way Saturday, on the road in Omaha against another top-10 team.
“We’re going to learn a lot from this,” Wright said. “We hope we don’t need wake-up calls. We try to motivate ourselves from within. But we’re going to learn a lot from this game. So is Creighton … That’s the beauty of league play.”
And sometimes games like Wednesday night’s are the beauty, too.