Villanova Wildcats vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Match Player Stats On Nov 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 22, 2017

Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges combined for 35 points on 14-of-24 shooting to lift fifth-ranked Villanova to a 66-58 win over Western Kentucky on Wednesday in a first-round game of the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas.

The Wildcats (4-0) face Tennessee (3-0) in a semifinal game Thursday. The Volunteers upset No. 18 Purdue 78-75 in overtime in another first-round game of the event taking place at the Imperial Ballroom Arena.

The Hilltoppers (2-2) will face the Boilermakers (4-1) in a consolation bracket game Thursday.

Brunson finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Bridges had 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, and he produced eight rebounds and five steals.

Donte DiVincenzo added 12 of his 14 points in the second half.

Western Kentucky was led by former Kansas player Dwight Coleby, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Darius Thompson had 16 points and six assists.

Western Kentucky played Villanova tight from the start, with the Hilltoppers taking a six-point lead in the first half before the Wildcats rallied to take a 27-24 lead at halftime.

Bridges and Brunson each scored 10 points at the intermission for Villanova, which started cold from the floor at 33.3 percent shooting in the first half.

Brunson and Bridges made 8 of 16 shots while their teammates made only 3 of 17.

Villanova gained separation with a 14-2 run that enabled it to take a 48-35 lead with 10:19 left in regulation. Bridges started the run with two baskets and Brunson added a 3-pointer.

DiVincenzo had five points in the pivotal run, which included Western Kentucky going scoreless for four minutes.

NOTES: Western Kentucky is 1-13 in its last 14 games against ranked opponents, with the lone win in that stretch coming at home against No. 25 Old Dominion on Jan. 10, 2015. ... This is Villanova's second visit to this event. In 2013, the Wildcats defeated USC on Thanksgiving Day, upended No. 2 Kansas on a late corner 3-pointer from then-sophomore Ryan Arcidiacono, and held off Iowa in overtime in the title game. ... The Hilltoppers have made at least one 3-pointer in 942 consecutive games, dating back to March 15, 1987, in the season the 3-point shot was instituted by the NCAA. ... Villanova's defense has been sturdy. Villanova forced 49 turnovers in its previous three games and opponents averaged 64.7 points per game. Villanova was 22-1 in 2016-17 when holding opponents to less than 65 points.