Villanova stuns No. 9 St. John's on late 3-pointer

Tyler Perkins drained a 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds left as host Villanova knocked off No. 9 St. John's, ending the Red Storm's 10-game winning streak with an exciting 73-71 victory Wednesday.

Simeon Wilcher made a 3-pointer with 27.3 seconds left to put the Red Storm (21-4, 12-2 Big East) in front. However, Jhamir Brickus made an extra pass to Perkins on the other end, and he drained the decisive shot from the right wing.

Wilcher missed a double-clutch 3-pointer on the final possession for St. John's. That sealed the third straight win for Villanova (15-10, 8-6), which also avenged a loss to the Red Storm earlier in the season.

St. John's trailed by 11 with about 9 1/2 minutes to play when Kadary Richmond scored four straight points to ignite a 14-0 run by the visitors. RJ Luis Jr. scored five points during that burst, including a dunk that made it 62-59 in favor of the Red Storm with 6:22 to play.

The Wildcats responded with nine of the next 11 points, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Eric Dixon that snapped a 62-62 tie and then another triple from the standout forward, making it 68-64 with 3:22 remaining.

Wooga Poplar scored 22 points and Dixon added 17 for Villanova, albeit on 5-of-17 shooting. Perkins chipped in 12 points for the hosts.

Aaron Scott (22 points) and Richmond (17 points, 10 assists) were among the standouts for St. John's.

Neither team led by more than four until Dixon and Poplar drained back-to-back 3-pointers to put Villanova ahead 25-19 midway through the first half.

Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double digits for the first time. However, the Red Storm controlled the final four minutes of the session to inch within 34-32 at the break.

The Wildcats were ahead 59-48 when Perkins drained a 3-pointer with about 10 minutes left in the second half before the Red Storm made their push, setting up the thrilling finish.

--Field Level Media