Saint Joseph's Erik Reynolds II scored a game-high 27 points in front of a sold-out Hagan Arena crowd, but a second half surge by Villanova helped the Wildcats top the Hawks, 71-64, in a Big 5 matchup on Saturday afternoon.

How It Happened
• Villanova took a 9-3 lead to start, but the lead changed hands six times in the first half with neither team leading by more than two possessions.
• Tied at 32 all in the final seconds, Reynolds II connected on a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Hawks a 35-32 lead at the half in front of a spirited Saint Joseph's crowd.
• The Hawks extended their lead to 44-38 on an alley-oop dunk by Rasheer Fleming less than three minutes into the second period.
• Villanova countered with an 11-1 run to take a 49-45 advantage with 13:07 to play.
• A three-pointer by Reynolds II brought St. Joe's to within one, but the Wildcats scored nine straight points to build a 58-48 lead on a free throw by Brandon Slater at 8:51.
• Saint Joseph's chipped away at Villanova's lead as a pair of free throws by Lynn Greer III brought the Hawks to within 61-57 with 3:39 to go. 
• That would be as close as the Hawks would get as Villanova extended its lead to nine and never allowed Saint Joseph's to come any closer than two possessions.

Inside The Boxscore
• Reynolds II led the Hawks in scoring for the seventh time this season, going 10-17 from the field, including 6-8 from three-point distance for 27 points.
• Reynolds II added four assists, three rebounds and a steal.
• Greer III was the only other Hawk in double figures as he finished with 14 points to go with a game-high six assists.
• Saint Joseph's turned the ball over just seven times on the day for a new season-best mark.
• A sell-out crowd of 3,924 packed Hagan Arena on Saturday.
• The Hawks moved to 1-2 on the year in the Big 5 with Saturday's result.

Up Next
Saint Joseph's remains at home as the Hawks take on Sacred Heart on Monday at 7 p.m.

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