Villanova ends skid, hands DePaul sixth straight setback

Caleb Daniels scored 18 points, Justin Moore added 17 and host Villanova defeated DePaul 81-65 on Wednesday.

Cam Whitmore also contributed 17, Eric Dixon had 13 points and eight rebounds and Brandon Slater chipped in with 10 points for the Wildcats (11-13, 5-8 Big East), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Villanova retired former guard Jalen Brunson's No. 1 jersey and also recognized Hall of Famer and former head coach Jay Wright, who won more than 500 games and two national championships at the school.

Villanova capitalized on a final 11-0 run to push a 70-65 lead into a commanding 81-65 advantage, which turned out to be the final score.

Slater hit a 3-pointer with 2:32 remaining and Dixon converted a three-point play with 1:40 left to key the run.

Umoja Gibson and Javan Johnson led DePaul (9-16, 3-11) with 18 points apiece.

The Blue Demons, who shot 7-of-25 from 3-point territory, went the final 3:43 without scoring.

Since defeating then-No. 8 Xavier 73-72 on Jan. 18, DePaul has now lost six straight.

Gibson converted a four-point play with 16:48 left and the Blue Demons pulled ahead 41-40.

Daniels dropped in a 15-foot jump shot with 11:30 remaining and Villanova led 50-49.

Daniels stayed hot and made consecutive 3-pointers to put the Wildcats ahead 62-56 with 8:02 to go.

The Blue Demons trailed 65-61 when Johnson hit a trey with 6:25 remaining.

DePaul built a 21-12 lead with 10:37 left in the first half following a 3-pointer by Johnson.

After missing their first six treys, Daniels connected to close the Wildcats within six with 9:18 remaining. That basket triggered an 8-0 Villanova run and the deficit was cut to 21-20.

The Wildcats went ahead by eight and then Caleb Murphy cut to the basket, received a pass and scored as DePaul trailed 33-27 with 3:18 to go.

Villanova led 37-34 at halftime despite shooting just 4-of-17 from 3-point territory.