Villanova answers Purdue rally to win in overtime, 89-81

NEW YORK – There were times Thursday night against Purdue when Villanova looked like a veteran team in mid-season form, and other times when the Wildcats looked like exactly what they are – a young team just starting out a season and trying to answer some questions.

But just when it looked as if the Wildcats' inexperience and mistakes would cost them in the semifinals of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, they remembered something else, that they are a feisty and resilient team that plays all the way to the final buzzer.

The Wildcats blew a 10-point lead to trail by eight with 2 minutes to play in the second half, made up the entire deficit and nearly won on a tip-in an eye blink after the buzzer sounded to end regulation, and then rode James Bell's long-range shooting and a stifling defense in overtime to defeat the Boilermakers, 89-81, at Madison Square Garden.

Villanova (3-0) earned a spot in Friday night's championship game against Alabama (3-0), a 65-62 winner over Oregon State in the first game of a semifinal doubleheader.

Maybe the Wildcats shouldn't have won. They shot just 27 percent in the second half. The Boilermakers (1-2) beat them on the boards 51-41 and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds. But somehow they did after Purdue had gone up 70-62 with 2 minutes, 3 seconds to play, and coach Jay Wright liked the heart his team exhibited.

"Yes, there were some bad spots," he said. "Real good experienced teams play a consistent 40 minutes. We're not there yet obviously but I think we can see this potential. There's potential but there's a lot of work to be done, a lot of work."

Bell said the Wildcats have the mindset to keep going no matter the situation.

"It shows us what we can do if we focus on the little things," he said. "We preach attitude, having a good attitude with everything. When we went down eight with 2 minutes to go, it was just like we were up 10 with 10 minutes to go. We kept at it. Nothing changes."

Darrun Hilliard scored 22 points, a career high, to lead the Wildcats, who also got 16 points apiece from Ryan Arcidiacono and JayVaughn Pinkston. They outscored the Boilermakers 27-14 at the free-throw line, making 10 consecutive free throws in the final 1:46 of regulation.

The biggest free throws in that stretch came with 43.8 seconds remaining, and the Cats down four, after Purdue's D.J. Byrd was whistled for a flagrant foul on Hilliard. The sophomore guard sank both free throws and, as Villanova tried to inbound on its ensuing possession, Arciadiacono was fouled and made two, and the game was tied at 75.

The Wildcats had the ball for the last shot. Arcidiacono took the ball to the hoop and missed but freshman Daniel Ochefu's tip in bounced off the rim and in as the buzzer sounded. The basket was ruled good but the call was reversed after a video review.

Bell, who had been just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc during regulation, hit two of his team's three field goals in overtime, both from three-point land. His first one 55 seconds into the extra period gave 'Nova a lead it would never relinquish.

"You're going to have good days and you're going to have bad days," said Bell, who finished with 15 and eight rebounds. "But as a shooter, that can't get to you, that can't deter you. You've got to keep shooting and that's what I tried to do tonight, and we came out with the win."

Villanova also received a major contribution from its defense in overtime, forcing four turnovers and limiting the Boilermakers to one field goal until the game was out of reach.

Cats sign D.C. pair. Wright announced Thursday the signing of a pair of Washington players – 6-foot-6 forward Chris Jenkins and 6-5 swingman Josh Hart – to national letters of intent for the incoming class of 2013.

The 230-pound Jenkins, rated four stars by recruiting services Rivals and Scout, averaged 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds last season for Gonzaga College High School in Washington. The 190-pound Hart, also rated a four-star recruit by the same services, averaged 20.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season for Sidwell Friends School.