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No. 3 Villanova beats No. 18 ASU 83-74 to win Empire Classic

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Coming into this season, Villanova coach Jay Wright wondered who might replace Saddiq Bey as the Wildcats' go-to player.

After two games, Wright thinks Jeremiah Robinson-Earl may have answered that question for him.

Robinson-Earl followed up an 18-point performance in the season opener with a career-high 28 points on Thursday night to lead No. 3 Villanova over No. 18 Arizona State 83-74 in the championship game of the Empire Classic.

''He wanted to be in that role last year and he just wasn't there yet,'' Wright said. ''He did all the dirty work last year and he still does the dirty work.