OMAHA, Neb. _ Villanova's experience and ability to stay calm in a raucous setting against a similarly unbeaten team extended its two-year win streak to 20.
With Jalen Brunson scoring a career-high 27 points, the Wildcats defeated Creighton, 80-70 on Saturday in a battle of Big East unbeatens before 18,831 at a sold-out CenturyLink Center.
The No. 1 ranked Wildcats (14-0, 2-0 Big East) began this win streak en route to last year's NCAA championship. No. 10 Creighton fell to 13-1, 1-1.
Kris Jenkins contributed 21 points and Josh Hart added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats
Guard Marcus Foster, a transfer from Kansas State, led Creighton with 22 points.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated.
Villanova led 63-54 on a runner by Donte DiVincenzo with 10:38 left but Creighton then got back in the game, going on a 9-0 run to tie the score on two free throws by Philadelphia product Maurice Watson Jr., with 7:41 remaining.
Leading 70-67, Villanova then got some breathing room on a Hart turnaround jumper in the lane and Brunson's jumper off the dribble making it 74-67 with 1:22 left.
Villanova, which trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, took a 42-41 lead on Jenkins' long 3-pointer with five seconds left in the half.
When Villanova trailed by double digits, it sounded like the roof would blow off, with the boisterous Bluejays fans rocking the arena.
Villanova kept its poise and Brunson went on one stretch where he scored eight straight points for the Wildcats. Brunson hit 4 of 5 3-pointers in the first half and Jenkins hit 3 of 7. Jenkins entered the game in a slight slump, having averaged 10 points and shooting 31.3 percent from the field.
Villanova owned the lead despite a frustrating first half by Hart. The Big East's leading scorer, who was being guarded by Creighton stopper Khyri Thomas, took just five shots, scored seven points and contributed four turnovers.
