Villanova rebounds from upset loss, pounds NJIT

Eric Dixon scored 22 points as host Villanova rolled over NJIT, 91-54, on Friday evening.

Having been upset 90-80 on its home court by Columbia on Wednesday, Villanova (2-1) was much sharper in this one. The Wildcats shot well from the field (57.1 percent) and the 3-point line (11 of 23) while dominating the boards, 38-21.

Dixon once again led the way. After missing the season opener due to a one-game NCAA suspension, the senior forward has excelled over the last two contests. He shot 11 of 16 for 33 points in the loss to Columbia and then authored a crisp 8-of-11 shooting effort in this one, not to mention a team-high 10 rebounds, six on the offensive glass.

Enoch Boakye, Tyler Perkins and Wooga Poplar added 12 points apiece for the Wildcats, while Kris Parker had 11. Perkins finished with four 3-pointers.

Villanova committed only five turnovers, compared to 16 assists. In fact, the Highlanders did not record a single point off a Villanova turnover. Tim Moore and Tariq Francis each scored 12 points to pace NJIT (0-2). Francis added six assists.

Villanova led only 15-13 after 8 1/2 minutes before Parker's layup ignited a 14-3 run. Parker scored the first six points, and then Perkins capped the burst with a 3-pointer to make it 29-16.

Perkins knocked down another 3-pointer shortly thereafter, and then with 1:32 left, Poplar's trey made it 39-21.

The Wildcats had a 41-25 cushion at the break with Dixon (11 points) leading the way.

Dixon carried that momentum into the second half, as his early layup ballooned the lead to 20 for the first time.

Not long after that, Villanova scored 12 consecutive points as a 47-29 edge turned into a 30-point margin. Jordan Longino and Jhamir Brickus opened that run with 3-pointers, Dixon scored four points and Poplar provided the exclamation point with a jumper.

The Wildcats led by at least 27 points the remainder of the way.

--Field Level Media