Thursdays Top 25 Capsule
December 12th, 2008 Posted in NCAA basketball news(12) VILLANOVA 59, SAINT JOSEPHS 56
VILLANOVA, Pennsylvania Scottie Reynolds had 18 points and eight assists as 12th-ranked Villanova dodged the upset with a 59-56 win over city rival Saint Josephs.
Dante Cunningham added 14 points as the Wildcats (9-1) overcame a nine-point halftime deficit. Reynolds and Cunningham each knocked down a pair of free throws in the final five seconds to secure the win over the Big 5 opponent.
St. Josephs (4-5) was in search of its second consecutive win over its fellow Philadelphia school and appeared poised to do so for much of the second half.
After taking the lead early in the first half, the Hawks did not trail until Reggie Redding sank a jumper with 3:01 left in the second half to put the Wildcats ahead, 53-52.
Redding answered a pair of free throws by Ahmad Nivins with two of his own with 60 seconds left, but Nivins went back to the line and made both attempts to put St. Joes ahead, 56-55, with 44 seconds left.
Darrin Govens missed the front end of a one-and-one to give Villanova the ball back with 16 seconds left and Reynolds drew a foul on a drive down the lane with 4.8 ticks left.
The junior guard calmly drained both. Cunningham intercepted the ensuing inbound pass and added two more from the line for the final margin.
Govens sank six 3-pointers for 18 points to lead the Hawks, while Nivins added 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Wildcats cut into the halftime deficit thanks to a 9-0 run midway through the half. Trailing, 41-32, Villanova held St. Joes scoreless for over five minutes to get back into the game.
Villanova had won 14 straight games against Big 5 opponents before a 77-55 defeat last season. The Wildcats upended Pennsylvania already and play La Salle on Sunday before facing Temple later in the season.
