Syracuse vs. Villanova: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2014 Regular Season

Syracuse and Villanova may no longer be in the Big East together, but the rivalry remains plenty strong. 

The adversaries competed in another thrilling, back-and-forth battle Saturday afternoon, with the No. 7 Wildcats putting together a wild second-half comeback and holding off Syracuse in overtime to earn the 82-77 win at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. 

Villanova trailed by as many as 15 and didn't lead until the extra period, but five points in the final 10 seconds of regulation helped keep their undefeated record in tact. 

JayVaughn Pinkston led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks, while Darrun Hiliard (23 points) and Josh Hart (21 points) were both crucial parts of the comeback. 

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein discussed the win for Jay Wright's squad:

Five players scored in double-figures for Syracuse, which shot 49.2 percent from the field and seemed to have a huge road in the books. But they committed a whopping 20 turnovers in a loss that will be difficult to swallow for Jim Boeheim's squad. 

Syracuse, a double-digit underdog entering the game, jumped out to a 15-point lead and led 43-31 at halftime. 

Michael Gbinije was the engine for the Orange on both sides of the ball. He was aggressive offensively, shooting the ball well, beating 'Nova off the dribble, setting up teammates and making plays all over the court. 

ESPN Radio Syracuse's Steve Neikam summarized the first-half performance with a lofty comparison:

Gbinjie played arguably his best game in a Syracuse uniform, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. 

For the Wildcats, it was a thoroughly sloppy start. Defensively, they gave up easy baskets on the interior and left sharpshooter Trevor Cooney open at the three-point line. On the other end, they did well to break down the Syracuse zone but missed a lot of shots. 

ESPN's Dana O'Neil put it simply:

But just five days before Christmas, the Bethlehem (PA) native would lead a comeback. Hilliard scored eight straight points then recorded a steal that led to another basket, fueling a 10-0 run early in the second half to cut the deficit to four. 

Moments later, he flew in on a Hart missed three-pointer, rising above the Syracuse defense and throwing down a monster put-back slam. 

VUHoops.com provided a look:

Every time Villanova closed the gap, though, Syracuse seemed to have an answer. And most of the time that answer was Kaleb Joseph. The freshman point guard served as a calming presence for the Orange down the stretch, scoring or assisting on five of six baskets at one point. 

College Basketball Talk's Rob Dauster praised the youngster's play:

But Villanova, always one of the toughest teams in the nation, didn't quit despite a seemingly insourmountable deficit. Down five with 15 seconds to go, Hart knocked down a three, 'Nova stole the ensuing inbound pass and Pinkston scored a layup. 

CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie gave a look at the blink-and-you-might-miss-it comeback:

"

Villanova scored five points in 10 seconds to force overtime against Syracuse. Watch it happen: https://t.co/ldyftbT3Js

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) December 20, 2014"

For the first time since 0-0, the game was tied at 69-69 heading into overtime. 

The New York Post's Zach Braziller applauded the Wildcats' resolve:

Villanova scored its first five overtime points at the free-throw line, and Pinkston came up with a huge block on Joseph to seal the win. 

With conference play on the horizon, neither team should have much trouble with a hangover after this classic. Syracuse hosts Colgate, while 'Nova takes on New Jersey Institute of Technology, hoping to avoid a similar fate as Michigan. 

Beyond that, both teams look built for a run come March, while Villanova provided more proof that it belongs among the country's elite.