Ed Croswell scored 21 points to reach 1,000 for his career Saturday as No. 24 Providence maintained its pristine home record by downing visiting Villanova 85-72.

Croswell made 7 of 9 shots and added 10 rebounds for the Friars (20-7, 12-4 Big East), who improved to 15-0 at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Bryce Hopkins supplied 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Noah Locke scored 16 points.

It was an efficient offensive effort from Providence, which went 27-for-48 (56.3 percent) from the field.

Eric Dixon went for 18 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats (13-14, 7-9), whose three-game winning streak came to an end. Justin Moore notched 17 points, and Caleb Daniels had 11 to go along with seven boards.

Despite making 16 of 18 free-throw attempts, Villanova went just 24-for-60 (40 percent) from the field and 8-for-29 (27.6 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Friars took advantage of Daniels’ two early fouls, which sent him to the bench. Providence made nine of its first 14 shots to open up a 24-12 lead with 9:22 left in the first half. The Friars went on to lead by as much as 14 before the break, but Brendan Hausen drained a 3-pointer to cap a 13-4 Wildcats run over the final 5:27 of the half to pull Villanova within five (36-31) by the intermission.

Croswell led all first-half scorers with 10 points, while Moore paced the Wildcats with seven.

Villanova scored nine of the first 12 points of the second half to claim its first lead of the game, 40-39, at the 17:09 mark.

But Providence responded with vengeance, using a 15-4 outburst to take back control. Locke headlined the surge with five points, while Hopkins and Croswell each converted a three-point play.

A layup by Daniels brought the Wildcats within 63-61 with 4:53 remaining, but Croswell scored down low, Devin Carter nailed a jumper, and Locke sank a triple from deep to help thwart the comeback.

Carter also hit a 3-pointer with 2:20 left, essentially sealing the outcome and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

–Field Level Media