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Reynolds shows scoring touch in Villanova's win over Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After two games as a new starter in which he basically just set screens in Villanova's offensive sets, Darryl Reynolds showed much broader offensive skills Saturday than anyone except his coaches and teammates ever knew he had.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After two games as a new starter in which he basically just set screens in Villanova's offensive sets, Darryl Reynolds showed much broader offensive skills Saturday than anyone except his coaches and teammates ever knew he had.

Seeing extended playing time for the third straight game while center Daniel Ochefu continues to recover from a concussion, Reynolds, a 6-foot-8 junior, scored 19 points - more than triple his previous career high - and helped lead the third-ranked Wildcats to a 72-60 victory over No. 11 Providence at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Reynolds, a Lower Merion product, sank 9 of 10 shots from the field in topping his previous career high of six points. That enabled the Wildcats (20-3, 10-1 Big East) to avenge their only conference defeat of the season, and reach 20 wins for the 11th time in the last 12 years, before a rocking sellout crowd of 12,883.

No, Jay Wright was not surprised.

"He does it in practice," the Wildcats coach said. "No one on our team is surprised.

"Part of Darryl's development is going up against Daniel every day. A lot of times the games are easier than the practices for Daniel because of Darryl. We've told Darryl, 'You're improving, people just aren't seeing it, and they're going to.' He got an opportunity. The fact that he is ready for this just shows his maturity, his intelligence, because he has been playing like this in practice."

Reynolds contributed 10 rebounds, two blocked shots, two steals, and a pair of assists. In addition to dunks, layups, and tip-ins, he swished a 15-footer from the left elbow, which he called "a shot we work on every day in practice."

Asked about his battles in practice with the 6-11 Ochefu, Reynolds replied: "Oh man, Daniel is a handful."

"He has such a good touch around the rim," he said. "He's developed his shot so I have to play him even harder now. His decision-making is the biggest thing because you never know what he's going to do. . . . Going against Daniel honestly has made me what I am today."

Two other Villanova players posted double-doubles, with Josh Hart going for 14 points and 13 rebounds (seven offensive) and Kris Jenkins adding 10 and 10. Hart also defended Kris Dunn for much of the game, and the Big East's preseason player of the year managed just 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting with twice as many turnovers (six) as assists (three).

"He's our leading scorer," Wright said of Hart. "He could have scored more, but we might not have been as effective. He just went and guarded Dunn, defensive rebounded, offensive rebounded, did everything. That's leadership."

Providence forward Ben Bentil, who was questionable with an ankle injury, played 34 minutes and tallied a game-high 20 points.

Villanova scored on the game's first possession and never trailed, going up by as many as 19 points in the first half and 17 in the second. But the Friars (18-6, 6-5) mounted a late rally behind three unanswered three-point baskets in as many possessions, and closed to within 56-50 with 5 minutes, 56 seconds remaining.

The gap was five with 5:13 left, but Providence got no closer. Ryan Arcidiacono, who averaged 20.5 points in his two previous trips here and scored 16 Saturday, had nine points in the final 3:16 to eventually ice it.

jjuliano@phillynews.com

@joejulesinq