ESPN Men's Basketball

PHILADELPHIA -- ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil provides instant analysis from No. 13 Villanova's 102-84 win over No. 12 Marquette on Tuesday.

Game analysis: In the first four possessions, Villanova and Marquette traded 3-pointers and the stage was set: Game on. This was not a game for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach. It was a high-octane, high-offense slugfest befitting of teams duking it out for a coveted top-four finish in the Big East and the all-valuable double-bye in the conference tourney.

How the game was won: How was this game won? In a blur. Once a defensive team mired in the 50-60 points per game range, Villanova has exploded into an offensive fury. Topping 90 points for the third consecutive game and moving into triple digits for the second game in a row (fittingly, points 99 through 101 came when Shane Clark's 3-pointer beat the shot clock by bouncing high and through the net), the Wildcats were simply too deep and too much for Marquette. Villanova had five players in double figures.

Player of the game: It's no secret that as Scottie Reynolds goes, so goes Villanova. So when the junior goes like he went against Marquette, it's no surprise the Wildcats won. Reynolds scorched the Golden Eagles for 27 points, hitting 10 of his 17 shots from the floor.

Player of the game II: Corey Fisher. Coming off the bench, the sophomore fireplug not only supplied 21 points but also ran the offense with efficiency, allowing Reynolds to roam freely for open shots.

Stat of the game: In a game in which checking your cell phone might have cost you the chance to catch another did-I-just-see-that shot, Villanova shot 51 percent from the floor and 48 percent from beyond the arc. The Wildcats shot a ridiculous 72 percent in the second half. No, those aren't typos. That's the fifth time in the past six games the Cats have shot better than 50 percent from the floor.

Stat of the game II: Villanova's bench contributed 31 points, Marquette's only seven.

Home cookin': The Wildcats have won a school-record 26 consecutive games at their on-campus arena, The Pavilion. The streak dates back to 2005. But Nova isn't picky when it comes to winning in Philly. Included in its current six-game winning streak are victories in three Philadelphia venues -- the Pavilion, Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum.

Injury report: Villanova's depth took a hit when senior Dwayne Anderson went down on the first possession of the second half, landing awkwardly on his left knee as he went for a rebound. Anderson, who had 10 points in the first half, did not return, instead taking a seat on the end of the bench with a bag of ice wrapped around his left knee. After the game, coach Jay Wright said that the injury was a sprain and that further evaluation will take place Wednesday. The senior has started in 13 of the Wildcats' 16 games.

Record night: No doubt he'd trade it in a heartbeat for the W, but Jerel McNeal became Marquette's all-time leading scorer with his 23 points. The senior has 1,776 points, besting the 40-year-old mark set by George Thompson by three points.

Play of the game: There were about 80, but the one that drew the collective "Oh" from the crowd was the one-handed, alley-oop throwdown by Dominic James. It would have been impressive from anyone, but seeing a soaring James, who is listed it at an extremely generous 5-11, was like watching Stuart Little sky.

What it means: No one wants to play Villanova right now. The Wildcats have won six in a row, included three straight against ranked opponents (their first such run since 2006). They have looked not just good but really good doing it. Villanova has won the six games by an average of 14 points, knocking down then-No. 3 Pittsburgh and beating Cincinnati, Providence, Syracuse and Marquette along the way. The Wildcats certainly are working their way into the conversation of the Big East's elite.

Marquette, in the meantime, needs to be careful. The Golden Eagles were the surprise team of the league with their red-hot 9-0 start but have dropped two in a row.

Dana O'Neil is a college basketball writer for ESPN.com.