CHARLESTON, S.C. _ A starter was out, Villanova's bench short. Knowing all that, Josh Hart came out fiery and focused, happy to put a little more load on his shoulders in Friday's Charleston Classic semifinal against Wake Forest.
An early spree from Villanova's preseason first-team All-American wasn't quite matched by the Demon Deacons, but was matched later by 'Nova teammate Mikal Bridges, who came out just as hot after halftime. The shooting exhibitions by the two Villanova wing players decided things inside TD Arena, 96-77.
It was one of those afternoons when third-ranked Villanova could pass up good shots for better ones. Also, Wake kept coming offensively. Donte DiVincenzo hit a 3-pointer and then drove for another hoop to push Villanova up 85-68. Wake Forest scored five points in the next minute, not conceding. Villanova kept coming, improving to 4-0.
Brunson gave the final exclamation point with a drive of the lane for a dunk, then Villanova got to the floor for a tie-up of a loose ball, sending Jay Wright into the kind of excitement everyone expected when Kris Jenkins hit his shot last March.
Hart, who finished with 30 points, came out scorching. First possession, he hit a 3. Barely more than three minutes in, he had a follow-up hoop and another 3, then a third 3, for 11 points in the first 3 minutes and 38 seconds. He didn't quite keep that pace, but had 18 points in the first 12 minutes and 20 at halftime
Phil Booth, who had left knee surgery after last season, was out with left knee tendinitis, which meant Brunson was out there the whole time, which wasn't a problem for 'Nova in the least.
Foul trouble created more 'Nova problems in the first half, with Jenkins picking up three fouls and Hart nursing two fouls. Tim Delaney is out with hip issues so the bench was short to start.
Wake Forest hit 46 percent of its shots but was down 47-37 at the half because Villanova had made 50 percent. Villanova also won the battle at the 3-point stripe, making 10 of 21 in the half to 4 of 10 for Wake (3-1), which had made 16 threes in Thursday's first half against UTEP.
Right after halftime, it was a similar show from Bridges, hitting a corner 3 to start things out on a feed from Brunson, then another 3, then a drive to the hoop, then a corner 3 straight from a Jenkins inbounds pass. Villanova's lead swelled to 62-45. After four points at halftime, Bridges finished with 19.
