Field Level Media
Dec 4, 2021
Collin Gillespie scored 23 points to fuel No. 6 Villanova's 81-52 rout of visiting Saint Joseph's 81-52 on Saturday.
Justin Moore added 16 points for the Wildcats (6-2), who won their third in a row, all in Big 5 play. After beating Philadelphia rivals La Salle and Pennsylvania before this matchup, they have one Big 5 game remaining later this month against Temple.
Eric Dixon contributed 12 while Jermaine Samuels and Brandon Slater had 10 each.
Villanova has won 10 straight games in the series against the Hawks known as the "Holy War."
Jordan Hall led St. Joe's (4-4) with 22 points while Cameron Brown and Ejike Obinna added 10 apiece.
The Hawks, who shot 22.6 percent (7 of 31) from 3-point territory, had their two-game winning streak snapped.
When Chris Arcidiacono dropped in a 3-pointer from the corner with 9:53 left in the first half, Villanova pulled out to a 21-11 lead.
After a turnover and a pair of missed treys by St. Joe's, Gillespie hit a 3-pointer for a 13-point advantage.
Hall hit a trey from the wing and Obinna added a short bank shot to close the Hawks within 26-18 with 5:35 left.
Gillespie knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final 1:34 to propel Villanova to a 34-22 lead at halftime.
St. Joe's committed eight turnovers and missed 14 of 16 3-pointers in the first half.
Moore missed all four shots in the first half but opened the second with a 3-pointer for a 15-point Villanova lead.
Another trey by Moore gave the Wildcats a 40-22 lead with 17:57 left.
The Hawks missed their first four shots to go along with three turnovers in the second.
Erik Reynolds II hit a trey and St. Joe's got within 41-25, but Arcidiacono responded with a 3-pointer on Villanova's next possession.
Hall made a short jumper with 11:15 to go, but St. Joe's still trailed 48-29.
Gillespie dropped in a triple, Moore hit a layup and the Villanova lead ballooned to 53-29.
The Wildcats cruised to the victory from that point.
--Field Level Media