COLLEGE: Josh Hart Leads Villanova to Fourth Consecutive Big 5 Title with Win Over Temple
VILLANOVA, PA - The Temple Owls and the Villanova Wildcats squared off at the Pavillion on Tuesday night for the 2016 Big 5 title. Although the game was a low scoring affair in the first half, Josh Hart exploded for 18 points in the closing period to help Villanova pull away.
The game’s first points didn’t come until the 17:30 mark in the opening half, when Kris Jenkins nailed a three for the Wildcats. From then on, the two teams would trade three point baskets for the next three minutes.
The contest stayed close for most of the first half, as both teams were able to lock down defensively. Villanova and Temple played tight defense, and contested every shot that was attempted, leading to low percentages in shooting for the first half. Both teams shot under 50-percent in the opening period, as Villanova ended with a 35-percent clip after the first half while Temple shot at just a 25-percent mark from the floor by halftime. What made the difference however, was Villanova’s ability to turn the ball over and score points on the fast break.
"I thought you saw two outstanding defensive teams in the first half," Villanova head coach Jay Wright said of the defensive-oriented game. "Their defense was outstanding, our defense was outstanding, but then we got a couple plays at the end of the half that broke it open."
In the last 2 minutes of the opening period, Temple’s Daniel Dingle turned the ball over twice against Villanova’s full court pressure, and as a result, the Wildcats ended the first half on a 9-0 run with a 29-16 lead. Villanova forced 12 Temple turnovers in the first half that resulted in 13 points, which was the scoring margin at halftime. No player for either team scored in double digits in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, but Josh Hart would spark a run that got Villanova’s offense in rhythm during the second half.
Villanova's Josh Hart goes up to block Temple's Shizz Alston Jr.'s shot - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
The closing period started just like the opening period started, as both teams traded baskets to keep the game relatively competitive. With 15:39 left to play though, Josh Hart looked to put the game away. Hart made four consecutive shots—three three-pointers and a layup—for 11 straight Villanova points. No other Wildcat scored until about three minutes later, when Kris Jenkins got a steal and pulled up for a triple to push Villanova’s lead to 21 points.
By the 12:26 mark in the second half, following Jenkins' three-pointer, Villanova led Temple 52-31. Temple senior point guard, Josh Brown, ended the Wildcat run with a smooth crossover that freed him up for an open jump shot to cut the lead to 19 points, but that was the closest the Owls ever got for the rest of the game.
"The couple of threes that he [Josh Hart] made were daggers for us," Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said of Josh Hart's run in the second half. "And we didn't have a whole lot of opportunities to respond."
Villanova was able to hold off Temple for the next 12 minutes, and in the end, it was the Wildcats who claimed victory as the 2016 Big 5 Champions. The 78-57 win over Temple marked the 18th consecutive Big 5 win for Villanova, who have won the last four Big 5 titles. No other senior class in the history of the Big 5 has gone undefeated in the City Series other than this year's Villanova squad, and for the players, it was a special accomplishment.
"It's an honor. Definitely humbling," senior guard Josh Hart said of going undefeated in Big 5 play. "We know the Big 5, the tradition. We have great teams every year, so its something that...down the line, we'll look back and it'll be pretty cool."
Hart had an efficient game, shooting 10-for-18 from the field along with three three-pointers and three free throws for 26 points. Despite the impressive play and convincing win however, Hart and Villanova have already set their sites on their next opponent.
"There's no time to celebrate," Hart said after the win. "We have to get ready for our next game against American."
The Wildcats, who are 10-0 after routing Temple, have American University at the Pavillion next on their schedule. The game is set to tip-off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st. Temple, who drops to 7-4 following the loss to top-ranked Villanova, hosts the NJIT Highlanders for their next game on Saturday, December 17th, at 2 p.m. inside the Liacouras Center.
