PHILADELPHIA -
Pat Connaughton scored 21 points, Jack Cooley had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 23 Notre Dame erased a 20-point deficit in a 74-70 overtime victory over Villanova on Saturday night.
Eric Atkins scored 17 points to help the Fighting Irish (19-8, 11-3 Big East) win their eighth straight game. The Irish made nine of their 12 3-pointers after halftime to send Villanova to its fifth loss in six games.
The Wildcats (11-15, 4-10) got a second chance after squandering the massive lead on Maurice Sutton's tying bucket late in regulation. They didn't have enough in OT.
Jerian Grant put the Irish ahead 68-65 on a 3-pointer with 1:28 left and Connaughton hit his seventh 3 with 45.9 seconds to go for a six-point lead.
The Irish survived 38-percent shooting from the floor for one of their toughest wins of the season.
(Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
