Devin Askew Leads Villanova Past Providence With 20 Points Off Bench
BRYN MAWR, Pa. – Devin Askew delivered a spark off the bench on Friday night, scoring a team-high 20 points to propel the Villanova Wildcats to an 87-73 victory over the Providence Friars at Finneran Pavilion. Askew was highly efficient, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and draining 5-of-8 attempts from three-point range, matching his season-high scoring output which he also set against Providence earlier this month.
Villanova (16-5, 7-3 Big East) seized control of the game early, utilizing a potent perimeter attack to build a commanding 45-28 lead by halftime. Askew scored 17 of his points in the first half alone, helping the Wildcats establish a cushion they would ultimately need. Tyler Perkins provided significant support with 19 points and six rebounds, while freshman guard Acaden Lewis facilitated the offense, tallying 12 points, eight assists, and three steals.
Despite the double-digit deficit, Providence (9-13, 2-9 Big East) mounted a serious challenge in the second half. The Friars capitalized on a significant size advantage to dominate the boards, out-rebounding Villanova 40-26, including 11 offensive rebounds. Stefan Vaaks led all scorers with 25 points for the Friars, helping cut the Villanova lead to just six points at 49-43 with 14:25 remaining. Jaylin Sellers added 16 points, and Ryan Mela contributed 14 points and seven rebounds as the visitors tried to claw back into contention.
The Wildcats, however, weathered the rebounding disparity by forcing turnovers and maintaining offensive efficiency. Following the Friars’ run, Villanova responded with an 8-0 surge to push the lead back to double digits, effectively putting the game out of reach. The victory completes a regular-season series sweep for Villanova over Providence. The Wildcats shot 50.8% from the floor compared to 48.3% for the Friars, securing their place in the upper echelon of the Big East standings.
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