Eric Dixon scored 25 points as Villanova topped visiting Seton Hall 79-67 on Tuesday in the Big East opener for both teams.
Tyler Perkins contributed 17 points for the Wildcats (8-4, 1-0 Big East), who have won five straight games following a bumpy start to the season. Jordan Longino chipped in 15 points and five assists, while Jhamir Brickus had seven points and seven assists.
Isaiah Coleman registered 22 points and nine rebounds to pace the Pirates (5-7, 0-1), who shot just 39 percent from the floor, including only six 3-pointers. Dylan Addae-Wusu (15 points) and Chaunce Jenkins (14) also scored in double figures, although they combined to shoot just 9-of-27 from the field.
While Seton Hall struggled to make shots, Villanova put together a strong effort from the field (55.3 percent), the 3-point line (9-of-21) and the foul line (18-of-22). Perkins fueled the sizzling shooting performance by draining 5 of 6 3-point attempts, while Longino went 7-of-7 from the foul line.
After trailing by eight points at halftime, Seton Hall started quickly in the second half as Scotty Middleton hit a 3-pointer and Garwey Dual made a jumper to help the Pirates get within 40-36.
However, Longino’s 3-pointer and Wooga Poplar’s three-point play shifted the momentum back toward the Wildcats. Soon thereafter, Perkins’ 3-pointer created a 53-43 margin, and then he knocked down another from beyond the arc to make it 58-47 with 8:11 left.
Dixon’s three-point play with 4 1/2 minutes left created a 16-point margin, and the hosts cruised to the finish line.
Villanova led by six with roughly three minutes to go in the first half when Josiah Moseley knocked down a jumper and Brickus converted a fastbreak layup to create the game’s first double-digit lead.
Seton Hall trailed by 11 in the final minute of the half before Addae-Wusu scored the final three points to get the visitors within 37-29 at the break.
Perkins led all scorers with 11 first-half points.
–Field Level Media
