Villanova scores first win in Big 5 play by stifling Penn

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th November, 21:22 2024

NCAA Basketball: Pennsylvania at Villanova

Nov 19, 2024; Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Tyler Perkins (4) blocks a shot from Penn Quakers guard Sam Brown (11) in the first half at William B. Finneran Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Eric Dixon scored 23 points as host Villanova walloped Penn 93-49 in a Big 5 matchup on Tuesday.

Wooga Poplar added 19 points and Jhamir Brickus chipped in 16 for the Wildcats (3-3), who shot a blistering 18-of-30 (60 percent) from 3-point range as part of a 53.2 percent shooting night overall. Villanova also dominated on the boards, 43-32, led by Penn transfer Tyler Perkins (12 points, nine rebounds).

The Quakers (2-3) shot just 26.9 percent from the floor and 14-of-30 from the foul line. Michael Zanoni was Penn's top scorer with nine points.

With just less than nine minutes left in the first half, the Quakers' Johnnie Walter made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 26-26. However, Penn did not score a point the rest of the half, as Villanova rode a 17-0 run into the locker room.

In fact, the Quakers not only missed their final 10 shots of the first half, but they missed their first five attempts of the second half as well. By the time George Smith made a layup with 15 minutes left in the contest, the visitors had gone nearly 14 minutes of game action without a bucket.

Poplar began the half-ending run with a 3-pointer, and then Perkins and Brickus each made one of their own as the lead hit double digits (37-26) for the first time. Brickus' jumper with roughly a minute left capped the first-half scoring.

Early in the second half, Dixon's layup sent the Wildcats' lead north of 20 for the first time, and then Brickus' jumper created a 25-point cushion at 54-29. Two minutes later, Perkins' jump shot ballooned the lead to 61-31.

Things didn't get any better for Penn, which fell behind 85-45 on Poplar's 3-pointer with 3:17 to play. Villanova led by as many as 46 down the stretch.

The game was part of pod play for the Big 5 Classic, which will bring together all six Division I teams in the Philadelphia area for a tripleheader on Dec. 7. The event also includes Temple, Saint Joseph's, La Salle and Drexel. Villanova lost to Saint Joseph's last week.

--Field Level Media