NEWARK, N.J. -- Josh Hart recorded his fifth double-double in his last nine games to lead No. 4 Villanova to a 72-71 win over Seton Hall Wednesday at the Prudential Center.

Hart, a junior guard, scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (17-2, 7-0 Big East). Forward Kris Jenkins added 12 points and guard Ryan Arcidiacono and forward Mikal Bridges netted 10 points apiece.

Isaiah Whitehead topped Seton Hall (13-5, 3-3) with 21 points and guard Khadeen Carrington added 17 points.

Villanova hasn't lost a Big East game since a setback to Georgetown on Jan. 19, 2015

Villanova forward Daniel Ochefu, who scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the first meeting of the two schools in January, wasn't a factor in the rematch. Plagued by foul trouble, Ochefu scored just six points and grabbed only three rebounds.

A layup by Arcidiacono put the Wildcats ahead 71-69 with 32 seconds left in the game. Seton Hall missed five shots with the score knotted at 69-69.

The Pirates went without a field goal in the final 2:28 of the game.

A 3-pointer from Whitehead with 2:28 to play gave the Pirates their first lead, 69-67, since early in the first half, but Ochefu tied it on Villanova's next possession with a layup.

The Pirates got as close as 65-63 with 5:04 to play before two free throws from guard Phil Booth advanced Villanova's lead to 67-63 with 4:45 to go.

Villanova opened the second half on a 10-2 run with Brunson nailing two 3-pointers for a 45-37 cushion.

A layup from Bridges gave Villanova its largest lead of the half, 27-17, with 7:43 remaining. His dunk off an inbounds pass with 35 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 35-33 halftime lead.

Carrington scored 10 straight points to bring the Pirates to within 30-29 at the 3:44 mark.

The Wildcats, ranked sixth in the Big East in 3-point percentage, found their long distance groove in the first half, connecting on 8 of 14 shots from long range. Jenkins and Hart scored eight points apiece in the half.

Guard Desi Rodriguez paced the Pirates with 13 points.

Villanova erased a 12-11 deficit by going on an 11-2 run to move ahead 22-14 with 9:36 left in the half. Hart delivered five points in the run.

The Wildcats blocked six shots in the first half.

NOTES: Seton Hall G Isaiah Whitehead and Villanova G Ryan Arcidiacono were named to the Big East honor roll. ... Seton Hall is the only team to defeat Villanova in each of the past two seasons. The Pirates claimed a 66-61 overtime win last year at the Prudential Center and knocked off the Wildcats 64-63 in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament on March, 2014. ... With Villanova ranked No.4 and Xavier at No. 5, the Big East has two teams in the AP top five for the first time in its current 10-team alignment.