PHILADELPHIA -- Daniel Ochefu had a career-high 25 points, Ryan Arcidiacono scored 13 and No. 1 Villanova beat St. John's 73-63 Saturday night.

Amar Alibegovic led the Red Storm with a career-best 18 points. St. John's has lost 16 in a row, the longest streak in Division I.

For a half, Villanova (22-3, 12-1 Big East) hardly looked like the nation's top team. The Wildcats, who were 27-point favourites, only led 28-27 at halftime.

Whatever coach Jay Wright said to his team during the break worked.

Villanova came out firing in the second half, going 9 for 11 while building a double-digit lead. Arcidiacono's 3-pointer capped a 10-3 run and gave the Wildcats their biggest lead to that point, 51-40.