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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Villanova 76, Creighton 72
When: 9:15 PM ET, Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Officials: # Clarence Armstrong, # Tim Clougherty, # John Gaffney
Attendance: 16337

No. 4 Villanova 76, Creighton 72:
Ryan Arcidiacono scored a season-high 23 points as the Wildcats outlasted the host Bluejays.

Dylan Ennis matched his season high with 19 points for Villanova (28-2, 15-2 Big East), which had already clinched its second straight conference regular-season title but still was able to hold off Creighton (13-17, 4-13) for its 11th straight victory. Wildcats leading scorer Darrun Hilliard was limited to 2-of-10 shooting, finishing with seven points and seven rebounds.

Austin Chatman scored 21 points to pace Creighton, which nearly won despite facing an 11-point deficit midway through the second half. The Bluejays got within 74-72 on Chatman's 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left and caught a huge break when Arcidiacono was called for an offensive foul on the ensuing inbounds, but Will Artino threw up a wild driving layup that missed badly in the final second.

The tide initially turned in the Wildcats' favor early in the second half when Ennis made back-to-back 3-pointers and Daniel Ochefu dunked to fuel a 15-4 surge that turned a 36-36 tie into a double-digit advantage. The Bluejays rallied furiously and went ahead 67-66 with 1:10 left when Chatman made a 3-pointer and two foul shots on back-to-back trips, but Arcidiacono answered with the go-ahead three-point play and Hilliard made two free throws while Creighton's Devin Brooks committed a turnover and missed a wild layup on two straight trips for the Bluejays.

Things got off to a hideous start for Villanova, which scored only three points during an 11-minute stretch of the first half to fall behind 21-12. Arcidiacono tallied seven straight Wildcats points during a 14-5 run as the visitors drew even at 26-26 en route to a one-point halftime deficit.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Villanova coach Jay Wright was assessed a technical foul during a 7-0 run that allowed Creighton to climb back into the game midway through the second half. ... Ochefu contributed nine points, nine boards and two blocks. ... James Milliken (12 points), Brooks (12) and Rick Kreklow (11) also finished in double figures for the Bluejays, who finished 10-of-22 beyond the arc.
Top Game Performances
 
Villanova   Creighton
Ryan Arcidiacono 23 Scoring Austin Chatman 21
Darrun Hilliard 3 Assists Devin Brooks 3
Daniel Ochefu 9 Rebounds Will Artino 6
Ryan Arcidiacono 10 Free Throws Made Austin Chatman 9
Dylan Ennis 3 Steals Austin Chatman 2
Daniel Ochefu 2 Blocks Zach Hanson 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Villanova 76 42.3 6-22 26-31 10 31 3 7 12
Creighton 72 43.4 10-22 16-24 13 27 5 7 12