VILLANOVA, Pa. - Allan Ray scored 28 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:54 left, to help No. 4 Villanova rally late for a 72-67 victory over Marquette on Saturday.<br>
<br>
The Wildcats (17-2, 8-1 Big East) are off to their best start in conference history and needed one impressive comeback to reach that feat. Down seven points with 3:30 left in the game, Villanova went on a 12-0 run - highlighted by Ray's 3 - that left Marquette (16-7, 6-4) simply stunned over a game it should have won.<br>
<br>
Villanova shot 32 percent, committed 14 turnovers and seemingly had no answer for Steve Novak who thwarted nearly every Wildcats' rally with a 3-pointer.<br>
<br>
Just not at the end when the Wildcats reverted to their normal form. <br>
<br>
After free throws pulled Villanova within four, Ray picked off a pass in the backcourt and converted the easy basket that made it 63-61. Then after another Golden Eagles turnover - one of 22 - Ray hit his fourth 3-pointer from the right side for a 64-63 lead that send the sellout crowd into a frenzy.<br>
<br>
Villanova stretched the lead to 68-63 but freshman Dominic James scored for Marquette and Jerel McNeal scooped a loose ball off a sloppy inbounds play and made a layup that pulled the Golden Eagles within 68-67 with 30 seconds left.<br>
<br>
Novak was off on a potential-tying 3-pointer and the Wildcats made their free throws down the stretch to win their sixth straight game.<br>
<br>
Randy Foye added 24 points for the Wildcats. <br>
<br>
Novak had 18 points, James scored 15 and McNeal 14 for the Golden Eagles, who lost for the second time in three games as they try and make a strong push down the stretch to solidify their NCAA tournament chances.<br>
<br>
Guard Kyle Lowry did not start for disciplinary reasons, and 6-foot-9 forward Dante Cunningham took his spot to give the Wildcats a more traditional three-guard lineup.<br>
<br>
Marquette played some inspired basketball in the first 37 minutes and nearly pulled off its second upset over a Top 10 Big East team this season. The Golden Eagles beat Connecticut to open the conference season.<br>
<br>
After a pretty quiet first half, Novak started hitting 3s to thwart Villanova runs. When the Wildcats sliced the gap to three, Novak hit one to make it 41-35. He sank another that gave Marquette a 10-point lead, then one more from the top of the 3-point arc for a 55-50 lead.<br>
<br>
The Golden Eagles got the lead to nine but Ray and a suddenly scrappy defense took over.<br>
<br>
Villanova retired the jerseys of Chris Ford and Tom Ingelsby, who both played on the 1971 team that reached the NCAA championship game.
