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Hart, Jenkins lead No. 1 Villanova past Butler 77-67

Kris Jenkins, Josh Hart

Villanova’s Kris Jenkins (2) celebrates with Josh Hart (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Villanova, Pa. Villanova won 77-67. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) Josh Hart had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Kris Jenkins added 20 points to lead No. 1 Villanova over Butler, 77-67 on Saturday.

It was the seventh straight victory for the Wildcats (24-3, 13-1 Big East).

Kelan Martin scored 19 points for Butler (18-9, 7-8).

It was the first time in Villanova history that a No. 1 team played at the Pavilion, the Wildcats’ on-campus home.

Hart, Villanova’s leading scorer at 14.8 points per game, struggled in the last two contests, scoring a combined 11 points on 3-for-15 shooting in wins over St. John’s and Temple. But he came alive against Butler, particularly in the second half when he scored 13 points.

Butler erased a nine-point halftime deficit and took a 37-36 lead with a 12-2 run over the first 4:49 of the second half. Martin had eight points during the Bulldogs’ spurt that was helped by Villanova missing its first five shots of the half.

And the Bulldogs still had the lead, 45-43, with 11:04 left when Andrew Chrabascz scored on a layup before Villanova’s offense picked up.

Jenkins and Hart combined on the next 16 Wildcats points and Hart’s 3 with 7:18 remaining put Villanova ahead 59-51. The Bulldogs never got closer than six points the rest of the way.

Hart finished 8 for 16 from the field, including 3 for 8 from the behind arc.

Butler went ahead 17-16 on Roosevelt Jones’ bank shot with 6:54 left in the first half before the Wildcats ran off 12 straight points, capped by Jalen Brunson’s 3-pointer, over the next 3 1/2 minutes to go up 28-17.

Hart’s turnaround jumper as the shot clock expired with 8 seconds left in the half gave Villanova its largest lead, 34-22. But the Bulldogs quickly got the ball up court and Martin drained a 3-pointer from the left wing as time expired to trim Villanova’s lead to 34-25.

Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu were honored before the game, along with Villanova’s other seniors, on Senior Day. The duo has been part of 106 victories, the most by a single class in program history.

TIP-INS

Butler: Six of Butler’s eight Big East losses have come against ranked opponents. . F Jackson Davis slipped on a drive with 3 minutes left in the first half and appeared to injure his groin. Davis returned late in the second half.

Villanova: The Wildcats improved to 7-0 all-time against Butler. . Villanova won its 37th straight game at the Pavilion, where it is 281-61 all-time. . The Wildcats swept the season series, defeating the Bulldogs 60-55 on Jan. 10 at Butler.

UP NEXT

Butler: At Georgetown next Saturday.

Villanova: At No. 8 Xavier on Wednesday.