Villanova PA: During conference play, you get tested by all the teams and that is what we had on Wednesday night as number 14 Villanova Wildcats took on the Creighton Bluejays from Finneran Pavilion on the campus of Villanova University. Villanova came into the game at 18-4, 9-0 in Big East and off a win over Georgetown on February 3 while Creighton heads to battle with Villanova at 13-9, 4-5 in Big East and off a win over Xavier also on February 3. This will be the second time that Villanova will be playing Creighton, the Wildcats beat the Bluejays back on January 13.
Villanova would open the scoring with 3 pointer from Saddiq Bey, Creighton got on the board on a basket from Connor Cashaw. Both teams would struggle shooting in the half as one point, Villanova would be 2-12 from 3 PT range. Wildcats would keep the game close. This would be a low scoring first half and just bad shooting by both teams. Villanova took 25-24 lead into halftime.
In the second Half, It would be a repeat of the first half, good defense, and some questionable shot selections. Saddiq Bey and Colin Gillespie would carry the offense and Eric Paschall would jump in as well. Creighton would lead 48-45 with 2:34 left. Late in the second half, Creighton Joseph Kaleb would get fouled from 3 PT range and the crowd did not like it and Jay Wright was very angry.
Phil Booth had to Hold Jay Wright from the Officals, Jay is very upset #Villanova #Creighton #NOVAvsCreighton
— David Malandra Jr (@David_Malandra) February 7, 2019
Creighton would have a chance to win the game and they would come up shot and the game would head to overtime tied at 49.
Who is ready for some OT?@NovaMBB and @BluejayMBB head to an extra frame on CBS Sports Network. pic.twitter.com/4cH8pR6Xbk
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 7, 2019
In Overtime Villanova would hit 3 pointer by Eric Paschall, Creighton would answer with 3 pointer, The Wildcats would hit a dagger three-pointer from Phil Booth which made it 58-52 and Creighton would run out of time as the Wildcats avoid a scare as they take down the Bluejays 66-59 as the Wildcats are now 10-0 in Big East Play.
The Wildcats are 10-0 in @BIGEASTMBB regular season action for the first time in program history.#NOVAvsCreighton
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) February 7, 2019
Saddiq Bey would have one hell of a game, here is one of his 17 points
Defense ➡️ Offense by Saddiq Bey! #NOVAvsCreighton pic.twitter.com/zvjwJfn9jK
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) February 7, 2019
With the win, Villanova now goes to 19-4 and head to road battle with Marquette on Saturday and Creighton falls to 13-10, 4-6 in Big East and will try to rebound from this loss as they take on Seton Hall also on February 9.
Final Stats:
Villanova Wildcats:
Saddiq Bey: 17 points, 5 rebounds
Eric Paschall: 15 points, 7 rebounds
Phil Booth: 14 points, 8 rebounds
Creighton Bluejays:
Davion Mintz: 19 points, 8 rebounds
Martin Krampell: 13 points, 10 rebounds
Mitch Ballock: 11 points
Video:
Creighton Coach Greg McDermott:
Villanova Coach Jay Wright:
