PHILADELPHIA — Villanova turned the site of its latest romp into the scene of a Super Bowl pep rally.
The final horn caused a celebration – not just because the Wildcats won, but to signal the Philadelphia Eagles bash ahead.
Omari Spellman hit six 3-pointers and had 26 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 Villanova kicked off a rousing day in Philadelphia sports with a 92-76 win over Seton Hall on Sunday.
The Wildcats (22-1, 9-1 Big East) won their ninth straight game in front of a crowd dotted with green jerseys and chanting for the Eagles hours before the Super Bowl.
“I love the Eagles,” Villanova Coach Jay Wright said, “but this is way more important to me.”
Villanova’s win served as the sports appetizer for a city absolutely whipped into a frenzy, with fans lined up hours before kickoff around the block to get into sports bars to watch the Eagles play the New England Patriots.
For about 25 minutes, the Pirates (17-6, 6-4) gave the Wildcats a serious scare, leading 48-45. But back-to-back 3-pointers by Eric Paschall and Jalen Brunson started Villanova on a decisive run.
(17) OHIO STATE 75, ILLINOIS 67: Keita Bates-Diop scored a career-high 35 points and had 13 rebounds for the Buckeyes (20-5, 11-1 Big Ten) in a win over the Illini (12-12, 2-9) at Columbus, Ohio.
(25) ARIZONA STATE 88, WASHINGTON STATE 78: Shannon Evans II scored 23 points and Romello White added 21 as the Sun Devils (17-6, 5-6 Pac-12) beat the Cougars (9-13, 1-9) in Pullman, Washington.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
(1) UCONN 106, CINCINNATI 65: Napheesa Collier scored 25 points and Kia Nurse added 23 as the Huskies (22-0, 10-0 American Athletic) earned their 150th straight win over an unranked opponent, beating the Bearcats (13-10, 5-5) in Hartford, Connecticit.
Azura Stevens had 20 points and Katie Lou Samuelson chipped in with 18 for UConn. Gabby Williams contributed her fifth double-double of the season, recording 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
(4) LOUISVILLE 84, SYRACUSE 77: Asia Durr scored 27 points, Myisha Hines-Allen added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Cardinals (24-1, 10-1 Atlantic Coast) earned their 13th straight road win.
Syracuse (17-7, 5-6) lost for the second straight time at home after reeling off 11 in a row.
(5) NOTRE DAME 72, (19) DUKE 54: Marina Mabrey scored 18 points, and the Fighting Irish (22-2, 10-1 Atlantic Coast) used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat Duke (18-6, 7-4) for the 14th straight time, at Durham, North Carolina.
(24) STANFORD 78, (6) OREGON 65: Brittany McPhee scored 31 of her career-high 33 points in the second half to lead the Cardinal (16-8, 10-2 Pac-12) to a win over the Ducks (21-4, 10-2) in Eugene, Oregon.
Stanford, the last visitor to win in Eugene, snapped Oregon’s 14-game home winning streak.
Sabrina Ionescu led the Ducks with 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
(10) FLORIDA STATE 66, PITTSBURGH 59: A.J. Alix scored 25 points to lead the Seminoles (19-4, 7-3 Atlantic Coast) to a win at Pittsburgh (10-14, 2-9).
Florida State pulled ahead with an 8-0 run over 2:07 late in the fourth quarter to end Pitt’s upset bid.
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