Jordan Longino scored 17 points on 8-for-14 shooting to help the Villanova Wildcats reach .500 in Big East play with a 59-49 win over the host DePaul Blue Demons in Chicago.
After a sluggish offensive start, Villanova (13-10, 6-6 Big East) ended a three-game losing streak by pulling away just past midway through the second half.
DePaul trailed 29-26 at halftime and crept closer at 34-32 with 17:52 to play on a 3-pointer from CJ Gunn.
Villanova answered with a 15-8 run over about nine minutes to stretch the lead to 49-40 on two free throws by Eric Dixon with 8:13 remaining. That stretch included a jumper and a layup from Wooga Poplar, two jumpers from Longino and a 3-pointer from Tyler Perkins. DePaul never got closer than six again.
The Wildcats thrived despite a rare off game from Dixon, the leading scorer in the NCAA who entered averaging 24.2 points per game. Dixon was held to 14 points on 4-for-14 shooting. Poplar, a transfer from Miami, chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
DePaul (11-13, 2-11) shot just 30.8 percent (20 for 65) for the game, including 7 for 36 (19.4 percent) from 3-point range.
The Blue Demons squandered a memorable performance from sophomore guard David Thomas. Thomas, a transfer from Mercer, was averaging 1.9 points in 16 games and had shot 1 for 11 from 3-point range. He scored 16 points against Villanova, including 4 of 10 from deep.
Gunn added 13 points, but he shot just 5 for 16, including 1 for 9 from long range. Jacob Meyer, who began the night tied with Gunn at a team-leading 12 points per game, was held scoreless on 0 for 7 shooting.
Villanova pulled into a tie for fifth in the Big East with Xavier. Those teams will meet Sunday in Villanova. DePaul won’t play again until Tuesday, when it travels to Milwaukee to face No. 11 Marquette.
–Field Level Media
