Georgetown @ Villanova preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 3, 2018 ) Georgetown 73, Villanova 97

With its senior stars leading the way, No. 14 Villanova is on the verge of a double-digit winning streak. The Wildcats can clinch a 10th straight victory Sunday when they host Georgetown in Big East action.

Since losing back-to-back games to Pennsylvania and Kansas, Villanova has won nine in a row with veterans Phil Booth and Eric Paschall handling the heavy lifting on offense. The senior duo combined for 39 points in Wednesday's 12-point win over DePaul and, on the season, they are averaging more than 35 points between them. Georgetown, meanwhile, has bounced back with two wins in a row following a stretch of four losses in six games. Freshman James Akinjo broke out of a long shooting slump with 23 points in Thursday's win over Xavier and is seeking to reach the 20-point mark in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

TV: Noon ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (14-7, 4-4 Big East): Akinjo was 6-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, against Xavier after shooting 18-of-72 in his previous seven games. Fellow freshman Josh LeBlanc had 17 against the Musketeers and has seen his point totals rise gradually in the last five games from four points against Providence to five to 10 to 15 before Thursday's effort against Xavier. Jessie Govan is the team's leading scorer (19.4) and shooting 56 percent from 3-point range in the last six outings.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (17-4, 8-0): Booth (18.7 points), who has knocked down 10 3-pointers over the last two games, has 18 assists versus only three turnovers over the last three contests. Paschall (17.0) has recorded at least 17 points in nine of the last 10 outings and needs one 3-pointer to tie his career high of 45, set when he was a freshman at Fordham. Sophomore Collin Gillespie (11.2) has drained multiple triples in six straight games and had no turnovers against DePaul as Villanova committed a total of three miscues Wednesday.

TIP-INS

1. Villanova won the two meetings with Georgetown last season by 32 points and 24 points.

2. Akinjo had five steals against Xavier; he had totaled four steals in his previous eight games.

3. Wildcats freshman G Saddiq Bey registered career highs in points (16) and rebounds (11) against DePaul.

PREDICTION: Villanova 79, Georgetown 70