By DAN GELSTON
Villanova’s JayVaughn Pinkston (22) goes up for a dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ryan Arcidiacono, Tre Campbell, Isaac Copeland, Mikael Hopkins
Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono (15) goes up for a shot against Georgetown’s Tre Campbell (1), Isaac Copeland (11) and Mikael Hopkins (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Darrun Hilliard II, Jabril Trawick
Villanova’s Darrun Hilliard II (4) collides with Georgetown’s Jabril Trawick (55) as they chase after a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Darrun Hilliard II, Jabril Trawick, Mikael Hopkins
Villanova’s Darrun Hilliard II, center, goes up for a shot between Georgetown’s Jabril Trawick, left, and Mikael Hopkins during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Kris Jenkins, Paul White
Villanova’s Kris Jenkins, left, goes up for a shot against Georgetown’s Paul White during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jay Wright
Villanova head coach Jay Wright reacts to a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Darrun Hilliard scored 15 points and Josh Hart had 13 to help No. 7 Villanova avenge its worst game of the season with a 69-53 win over No. 24 Georgetown on Saturday.
The Hoyas thumped the Wildcats (21-2, 8-2 Big East) by 20 in the first game on Jan. 19. In the second matchup of the longtime conference rivals, the Wildcats raced to a 17-point lead and never looked back in their fourth straight win. They’ve won eight of nine and have played up to their billing as the preseason Big East favorite.
Villanova upset Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game and wore ’85 throwback uniforms for a game that featured selected highlights from that “Perfect Game” playing on the big screen.
The Wildcats made a few more for this season’s reel. Hilliard and Dylan Ennis hit consecutive 3s for a 12-7 lead that sparked the rout.
L.J. Peak scored 15 points for the Hoyas (15-8, 7-5). With losses this week to Providence and Villanova, the Hoyas are sure to fall out of the Top 25.
With a packed house at the Wells Fargo Center adding to the big-game feel, the Wildcats quickly squashed any thoughts of a Georgetown sweep. Hilliard converted a four-point play early before the 3-point barrage started.
The Wildcats came in shooting 36 percent from 3-point range and were nailing them with the ease of fastbreak layups. Ennis hit one for a 10-point lead, Ryan Arcidiacono made it 27-13 with his and the Wildcats finished 7 of 13 in the half.
The Hoyas never got untracked offensively. They missed 7 of 8 3s in the half and received no meaningful production from leading scorers D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (15.8 ppg) and Joshua Smith (11.9). Smith-Rivera was scoreless in the first half and Smith only scored two points on a combined 1 of 6 shooting.
In the first game, Smith-Rivera scored 17 for the Hoyas, who pulled away early with a 17-0 run on the way to a 42-20 halftime lead. Georgetown shot 60 percent in the first half and 51 percent for the game.
With a cold offense, the Hoyas never made a serious attempt at a second-half comeback.
Kris Jenkins kept the good times rolling for the Wildcats in the second half. He hit consecutive 3s for a 51-29 lead and made the Wildcats 10 of 18 from 3-point range.
TIP INS:
Georgetown: Georgetown opened a stretch of four road games out of the next six. …
Villanova: Coach Jay Wright pulled forward Daniel Ochefu from the starting lineup for a minor academic issue. Ocheful sat out just a few minutes before he entered the game. Hart got the start. … The Wildcats are 43-33 at the Wells Fargo Center and 29-29 against Big East teams.
UP NEXT:
Georgetown plays Tuesday at Seton Hall.
Villanova plays Wednesday at Providence.