Villanova Wildcats vs Providence Friars Match Player Stats On Mar 06, 2021

David Duke capped a 20-point performance with the game-winning tip-in with five seconds remaining in the second half to lift host Providence to a 54-52 win over No. 10 Villanova on Saturday.

Nate Watson added 20 points and Noah Horchler had 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Friars (13-12 overall, 9-10 Big East).

Jermaine Samuels had 21 points to lead Villanova (16-5, 11-4), while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had 11 points and 13 rebounds. Robinson-Earl's 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired.

The Wildcats played without Collin Gillespie, who is sidelined for the season with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Providence jumped out to a 21-7 lead when Horchler dropped in a 3-pointer with 12:22 remaining in the first half.

Villanova scored the next five points before the Friars extended their advantage to 29-12 after Horchler grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 5:49 left.

The Wildcats lost Justin Moore for the remainder of the game to a left ankle sprain 14 seconds later.

Watson's 14 points propelled Providence to a 38-21 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats were just 6 of 28 from the field in the opening half.

Villanova began the second half on an 11-0 run, with Caleb Daniels hitting a 3-pointer to highlight the surge.

Horchler responded with a 3-pointer for a 41-32 Providence advantage with 16:45 left.

Villanova went through a scoring drought of more than four minutes and the Friars moved out to a 44-32 lead.

Eric Dixon scored in the lane and the Wildcats closed within 47-42 with 5:42 remaining.

Providence missed 11 of 12 shots as Villanova sliced into the deficit, but Watson's tough basket down low gave the Friars a seven-point advantage with 4:45 left.

Brandon Slater responded with a trey and Samuels scored five straight points to give Villanova a 50-49 lead with 2:21 left.

The Friars went ahead 52-50 when Duke hit a floater in the lane with 1:11 to go before Samuels forged a tie with a pair of free throws with 15.8 seconds remaining.

--Field Level Media