VILLANOVA, Pa. _ Villanova returned to the basketball court Wednesday night after an eight-day break for final exams, which usually means some sloppy hoops as the players try to get back into the flow of a game.
The top-ranked Wildcats worked off most of the rust in the first nine minutes, and pretty much had their way for the rest of the night, rolling to a 90-48 victory over American at the Pavilion in their final game before the start of the Big East season next week.
Josh Hart shrugged off some difficulty with fouls and led Villanova (12-0) with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Eric Paschall and Mikal Bridges added 15 points apiece while Jalen Brunson contributed 14 points and six assists.
The Wildcats, who won their 18th straight game, were a little off from 3-point distance but more than made up for it with their accuracy from inside the arc. They shot 71.9 percent (23 of 32) on two-point attempts compared with 8 of 21 (38.1 percent) on 3s. They outrebounded the visitors, 38-17.
The Eagles (3-8) were led by Delante Jones with 12 points and freshman Sa'eed Nelson with 11. American shot 28.6 percent in the second half and 37.3 percent for the game.
The Wildcats got off to a slow start, making just three of their first nine shots, and trailed by one point on three occasions. They went on a 7-0 run during one stretch but the Eagles answered with six straight points, and the game was tied at 15 with 10:48 left in the half.
But Hart knocked down a 3-pointer and converted a driving shot in the lane to ignite an 11-2 run over the next four-plus minutes, extending the Villanova lead to 26-17 on Donte DiVincenzo's jumper from the baseline with 6:27 to play.
Paschall's free throw gave 'Nova its largest lead of the half at 38-26 in the final minute. After Matt Cimino nailed a 3-point basket on American's final possession, the Wildcats got a jumper by Hart on their final trip and led by 40-29 at the break.
The Wildcats led, 50-35, with five minutes gone in the second half before holding the Eagles to two points over the next eight minutes and outscoring the visitors, 22-2. Brunson paced the spurt with six points. The Villanova lead got to 40, 85-45, on Bridges' basket with 2:46 remaining.
