Nov. 19, 2008

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Nova-Notebook Postgame: 'Cats Guards Rose to the Rescue against Niagara

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) -- Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points, Corey Fisher had 15 and Reggie Redding 14 to lead No. 23 Villanova past pesky Niagara, 77-62 on Wednesday night.

Playing their third game in six days, the banged-up Wildcats (3-0) were just vulnerable enough to be severely tested at home by Niagara. The Purple Eagles (1-1) opened the second half on a hot streak and a pair of 3s helped slice the deficit to single digits.

The Wildcats played their third straight game without swingman Dwayne Anderson (foot), and 6-foot-10 center Casiem Drummond (foot) was limited to only 2 minutes.

Corey Stokes scored seven points and played with a taped sprained left thumb.

Battered and bruised, the Wildcats still got it done.

Reynolds sank two from the free-throw line around the 8-minute mark and a jumper by Redding helped the Wildcats regain a double-digit lead at 60-48. From there, they slowly did enough to win their 18th straight home game.

Tyrone Lewis scored 16 points and Rob Garrison had 15 for Niagara.

This was a homecoming of sorts for some of the Purple Eagles. Coach Joe Mihalich was a former La Salle standout and assistant coach for the Explorers, assistant coach Phil Martelli Jr. played at Saint Joseph's for his father, and forward Bilal Benn transferred after playing two seasons for Villanova.

Niagara had their mini-run early in the second half to keep the game close. Lewis hit a 3-pointer and Benson Egemonye followed with a tough inside bucket and free throw. Another free throw cut the gap to 40-38, and the Villanova fans that came expecting to see another easy win were pretty quiet in the Pavilion.

Redding hit a 3 to give the Wildcats a little bit of space on the scoreboard, but it didn't last long. Lewis and Garrison each sank 3-pointers and the deficit was back down to five.

Redding's jumper capped a 9-0 spurt that was sorely needed once Dante Cunningham, who scored a career-high 31 points against Fordham on Monday, fouled out. Cunningham finished with 11 points.

This was a preliminary round game for the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The championship round games will be played Nov. 28-29 at the Palestra.

Niagara dropped its 18th straight game against ranked opponents and hasn't beat a Top 25 team since a win over No. 4 St. John's in 1984.