Nicholls State Colonels vs Villanova Wildcats Match Player Stats On Nov 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 14, 2017

PHILADELPHIA -- Mikal Bridges set a career-high with 23 points to lead six players in double figures and fifth-ranked Villanova had little trouble dispatching Nicholls State 113-77 Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Donte DiVincenzo contributed 20 points and Jalen Brunson added 17 for the Wildcats, who improved to 2-0. Phil Booth had 12 and Eric Paschall 11 for Villanova. Collin Gillespie also chipped in with 10.

Nicholls State, which last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2014, was paced by Zaquavian Smith with 25 points. Roddy Peters added 17 and Tevon Saddler had 15.

The Wildcats, who had eight different players score in the first half, bolted to a 54-30 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Booth dropped in a 3-pointer and followed with a steal and coast-to-coast layup for a 70-42 advantage with 15:58 remaining. Booth scored 20 points against North Carolina in the national championship game in 2016, which was won by Villanova when Kris Jenkins hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Booth missed the final 33 games last season with left knee inflammation and was granted a medical redshirt.

The Wildcats kept up their relentless pressure and DiVincenzo's layup with 12:50 gave them a 76-45 lead.

Villanova hit 12 of its first 17 shots in the second half on its way to a commanding 88-51 lead.

Villanova raced to a 35-11 lead thanks to a 19-2 spurt with 5:59 remaining in the first half.

Bridges led the way in the opening 20 minutes with a dominating performance -- 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

The Wildcats shot a sizzling 59 percent (19 of 32) while Nicholls State struggled, going 12 of 33.

In addition to solid shooting, Villanova also was aggressive and attacked the basket throughout the first half, which resulted in 12 points. It missed only three of 15 free throws.

Nicholls State's Lafayette Rutledge scored 23 points and drained seven threes in the opener, but was held to one point in the first half against Villanova. Rutledge missed all four of his 3-pointers.

NOTES: Villanova F Omari Spellman was named Big East Freshman of the Week after his 11-point, 11-rebound effort in Friday's 75-60 win over Columbia. ... This was the first career meeting between these two schools. ... Nicholls State was picked 10th in the Southland Conference preseason poll. ... Villanova still has 10 games remaining at the Wells Fargo Center while its on-campus arena undergoes a $60 million renovation. ... Nicholls State second-year coach Richie Riley had been an assistant at Clemson. ... Villanova next plays Friday night against Lafayette in Allentown, Pa., about an hour from Philadelphia.