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No. 3 Villanova Hosts Notre Dame, Looks To Stake Claim To Nation’s Top Spot
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Antonio Pena had 14 points and nine rebounds and Corey Fisher added 17 points and five assists, as No. 3 Villanova remained the only unbeaten team in Big East play with a 90-72 win over Notre Dame at the Wachovia Center.
Scottie Reynolds donated 17 points as well for the Wildcats, (19-1, 8-0 Big East), who have won 10 straight to mark the best start in school history. Maalik Wayns netted 10 points in the victory.
Luke Harangody provided 21 points and 10 boards, while Tim Abromaitis and Tyrone Nash chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively, for the Fighting Irish (15-6, 4-4), losers in three of their last four games.
The Wildcats hit six of their first 11 three-point attempts and held the biggest lead of the first half, 34-26, after a Fisher make from long range with under seven minutes to go.
Harangody kept the Irish close with 16 points in the opening stanza, while ‘Nova made just one field goal over the final five minutes. Two Harangody free throws cut the Notre Dame deficit to 41-40 heading to the break.
Villanova found success under the basket in the early going of the second half and never gave up the lead. Pena scored five quick points inside and his free throw five minutes in yielded a 51-44 advantage.
Ben Hansbrough fouled out with 12:48 remaining in the game, proving pivotal in Notre Dame's comeback bid.
Taylor King drained a deep three-pointer near the nine-minute mark to push Villanova’s cushion to double digits, 66-56, for the first time.
Corey Stokes' three-pointer off a nice dish from Fisher made for a 77-62 margin with a little over six minutes left, and the Wildcats poured it on from there.
Hansbrough, who came in averaging 11.7 points and 5.2 assists, ended with seven and three...Notre Dame's bench was outscored, 24-10...Notre Dame made just 19-of-30 from the foul line...Stokes and Reggie Redding each scored nine points, and King had eight...The Wildcats' best previous start came in 1950-51 when they were 18-1...Villanova ended 10-of-24 from three-point range.
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