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<p>SAN ANTONIO &#8212; Michigan&#8217;s Zavier Simpson caught a quick pass, took a dribble to the rim and went up for what should&#8217;ve been an easy layup.</p><p>That&#8217;s when Villanova&#8217;s Donte DiVincenzo come flying in from behind to stuff the layup into the side of the rim and force a jump ball.</p><p>On this night, with a national championship on the line, it was a fitting reminder that this Wildcats team is more than just a remarkably good 3-point shooting team. It was a tournament-tested group capable of winning in a variety of ways &#8212; and in Monday&#8217;s 79-62 win against Michigan, it was just as much about Villanova&#8217;s strong defensive finish to the first half and its rebounding as it was about that oh-so-good offense.</p><p>After the Wolverines started the game 8 for 12, Villanova (36-4) held Michigan to 3-for-16 shooting for the final 11 minutes of the half as the Wildcats dug out from an early 21-14 deficit to lead 37-28 by the break. That included a stretch of seven straight misses, followed by the Wolverines missing their last six shots of the half &#8212; one of those being DiVincenzo&#8217;s soaring-in block of Simpson.</p><p>That bought time for the Wildcats offense to figure things out and get moving after a bumpy start, even if they came nowhere near duplicating that Final Four-record 18 3-pointers against Kansas from Saturday&#8217;s national semifinals.</p><p>Then there was the rebounding. The Wildcats finished with a 38-27 edge on the glass for the game, many of those coming to secure each defensive stop as they took over in those game-turning minutes before halftime.</p><p>The Wildcats had already proven earlier this tournament they weren&#8217;t just one of college basketball&#8217;s best offensive teams in recent memory.</p><p>Look back to the Elite Eight, when Villanova shot just 33 percent and made 4 of 24 3-pointers against Texas Tech. That day it was about a tough-minded defensive effort that held the Red Raiders to 33 percent shooting and a dominating effort on the glass (51-33, including 20 offensive rebounds) to secure a trip to San Antonio.</p><p>The Wildcats did enough of both on Monday night to secure coach Jay Wright&#8217;s second national championship in three seasons.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Villanova celebrates on the court after beating Michigan in Monday&#8217;s national championship game in San Antonio. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Nova-Final-Four-CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Villanova celebrates on the court after beating Michigan in Monday&#8217;s national championship game in San Antonio. </caption0><photoCredit0>Brynn Anderson | AP photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_AP18093134319286.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Villanova&#8217;s Donte DiVincenzo, left, and Jalen Brunson celebrate after the Wildcats beat Michigan 79-62 to win the national title. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_AP18093134319286.jpg</photo1><caption1>Villanova&#8217;s Donte DiVincenzo, left, and Jalen Brunson celebrate after the Wildcats beat Michigan 79-62 to win the national title. </caption1><photoCredit1>David J. Phillips | AP Photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Not just 3s: defense, rebounding help Villanova win title</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By AARON BEARD</p><p>AP Basketball Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

Shining super-Nova: Villanova wins national championship over Michigan