NEW YORK – Big East 6th Man of the Year Josh Hart scored 11 straight points to open a 17-0 run midway through the first half that turned a close game into a rout, and top-seeded Villanova cruised to a 84-49 blowout over No. 9 seed Marquette in a Big East tournament quarterfinal game Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
In less than 2½ minutes, Hart made three threes and a layup, and Villanova turned a two-point lead int a 19-point lead in just 5½ minutes.
Hart finished with 20 points, one shy of his career high of 21, set earlier this season against Syracuse.
Villanova made nine of its first 13 shots from three-point range and finished 17 for 29.
The Wildcats' last two wins have been by a combined 71 points.
Stat of the day
Hart’s 5-for-7 from three combined with Sterling Gibbs’ 1-for-7 from three Wednesday night vs. Marquette moved Hart into the lead in Big East three-point shooting.
News
Gibbs finished 75 for 172 (43.9 percent), and Hart improved to 47 for 102 (46.1 percent).
What it means
Villanova improved to 30-2 and tied the most wins in school history. The 2009 team went 30-8.
The Wildcats kept alive their chance to reach their first Big East final since 1997 and win the tournament for the first time since 1995. Villanova has advanced to the semifinals of the tournament for the first time since 2009.
Villanova's 17 three-pointers ties the Big East tournament record.
Marquette fell to 13-19. Villanova beat the Golden Eagles by 18, 11 and 25 points this year.
Turning point
Villanova led 18-16 8½ minutes into the game when Hart made a three, then another three 30 seconds later, then a layup 64 seconds after that, then another three 53 seconds later. Eleven points in 2:17. And the rout was on.
By the numbers
Matt Carlino was 8 for 12 from three vs. Seton Hall Wednesday night. He was 1 for 6 from three vs. Villanova and missed his first five. ... Hart scored 18 vs. Seton Hall in the Big East tournament last year, so he now has 38 points in two career tournament games. ... Darrun Hilliard added 13 points and eight assists for Villanova, and Dylan Ennis had 12 points, four boards and two assists. Daniel Ochefu contributed six points and seven boards. ... Kris Jenkins played only 15 minutes but made three threes in under two minutes late in the game for nine points and added four rebounds. ... Duane Wilson led Marquette with 11 points. ... Villanova has now surpassed 80 points 13 times this year.
What's next
Top-seeded Villanova plays at 7 p.m. Friday against the winner of a game at 2:30 p.m. Thursday between No. 4 Providence and No. 5 St. John’s.