Bynum leads No. 23 Providence past Villanova 70-65

By AARON BRACY
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jared Bynum scored 19 points and hit a key jumper and two free throws late to help No. 23 Providence defeat Villanova 70-65. Ed Croswell scored 14 points for the Friars, who improved to 17-5. Cam Whitmore had 21 points to lead Villanova, which returned to the court after an eight-day layoff. The Wildcats are 10-11. Justin Moore played for Villanova for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles’ in Villanova’s Elite Eight victory over Houston last spring. He finished with five points. The game was played at the Wells Fargo Center and ended about an hour before the Philadelphia Eagles hosted San Francisco in the NFL championship game across the street at Lincoln Financial Field. There were some Eagles chants and plenty of green jerseys throughout the arena.