'Nova takes down Delaware

Philadelphia, PA -- Kris Jenkins scored 15 points thanks to hitting four three pointers, to help No. 12 Villanova to a 78-47 rout of Delaware on Sunday and end a perfect opening month of the 2014-15 season. 

Daniel Ochefu had 12 points and six rebounds while Darrun Hilliard II gave 12 points for the Wildcats (6-0), who were coming off a slim five-point win against Michigan on Tuesday to win the Legends Classic.

Cazmon Hayes scored 17 points and Devonne Pinkard gave 11 for the Blue Hens (0-5), who have lost their past four games by double digits.

Villanova led this game from start to finish and held a 15-4 advantage off a 3-pointer from Hilliard 7 1/2 minutes in.

Delaware cut its deficit to five when Kory Holden hit back-to-back jumpers to make it a 17-12 game with under six minutes to play.  The hosts, though, closed the half on a 17-4 run to take a 34-16 lead into the break.

Hilliard's triples on consecutive possessions at the start of the second half keyed a 10-0 run which increased the Wildcats' edge to 44-16. Ochefu's emphatic slam capped the burst and essentially sealed the outcome.

"If Darrun has one flaw, it's that he's too nice," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "He's worried about everybody else, wants to be a leader, wants to take care of everyone. I told him yesterday: `just because you're a senior, you're not supposed to be perfect.'"

Delaware got no closer than 22 back the rest of the way. 

Villanova ended the day with a season-best 13 3-pointers, including nine after intermission. Much of that success was owed to the space created by the work of Ochefu on the interior - he scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half and helped Villanova construct its margin.


Notes: Delaware hosts Army on Wednesday ... Villanova, which also went undefeated last November, opens up its Big Five slate at La Salle on Wednesday ... Villanova upped its all-time mark to13-0 against Delaware ... The Wildcats shot 48.3 percent and held the Blue Hens to 31 percent shooting ... Villanova owned a 38-5 advantage in bench scoring and a 24-16 edge on points in the paint. The Wildcats were 28-of-58 from the field (.483) and 13-of-32 (.406) from distance.