No. 4 Villanova 71, Creighton 50: Darrun Hilliard II scored a season-best 24 points while setting a career high with six 3-pointers as the host Wildcats cruised past the Bluejays in Big East play.

Ryan Arcidiacono added 10 points for Villanova (18-2, 5-2), which went 12-for-26 from 3-point range. Daniel Ochefu recorded eight rebounds and three steals to go with seven points for the Wildcats.

James Milliken scored 13 points for Creighton (9-12, 0-8), which lost its ninth straight contest. Austin Chatman added nine points but was just 3-for-14 from the field as the Bluejays shot 37.3 percent.

Villanova opened the contest with 15 consecutive points as Hilliard hit two 3-pointers while Arcidiacono and Josh Hart each made one. Creighton pulled within 19-11 on Chatman’s hoop with 5:47 to go in the half before the Wildcats rattled off 10 straight points – including two 3-pointers by Hillard – for an 18-point lead before Avery Dingman connected from beyond the arc prior to the buzzer to cut the Bluejays’ deficit to 29-14.

Creighton moved within 11 early in the second half before another 3-pointer by Hilliard stretched it out to 40-24 with just under 16 minutes remaining. Arcidiacono’s 3-pointer made it 59-40 with eight minutes to play and Hilliard’s sixth long-range basket expanded the lead to 67-43 with just over four minutes left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Villanova has won 18 consecutive home games. … The Bluejays collected 13 offensive boards while possessing a 40-27 rebounding advantage. … The Wildcats made 10 steals while forcing 19 turnovers.