BOX SCORE (.html)
BOX SCORE (.pdf)
VILLANOVA, PA Villanova junior Dwayne Anderson hit a three-pointer with only 12 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Wildcats to a 72-70 victory over Seton Hall before a sold-out crowd at The Pavilion on Saturday.
Seton Hall senior Brian Laing (Bronx, N.Y.) hit two free throws to tie the game at 68 with 3:11 remaining. Neither team could take a lead until Villanova’s Dante Cunningham hit the back end of two free throws to give the Wildcats a slim 69-68 edge with only 48 second remaining. On the ensuing possession, sophomore Eugene Harvey drove to the hoop for a layup that put the Pirates back on top, 70-69, with only 37 seconds left.
But Seton Hall couldn’t hold onto the lead, as Anderson was left open in the corner and drilled the game-winning three-pointer. Anderson, who was only averaging 3.6 points per game and who had made only two of 11 three-point attempts this season, finished the game with 13 points and three, made, three-pointers in six attempts.
The Pirates played the game close the entire way, although the first half saw a number of runs. After sophomore Larry Davis (Middle Village, N.Y.) hit a jumper to open the game, Villanova scored the next 12 points to take an early 12-2 lead with 16:54 remaining in the first.
Seton Hall responded with a 7-0 run of their own as both teams came out of the gate shooting well early. With 7:27 remaining in the first half, Seton Hall trailed by one 31-30, but was shooting a blistering 75.0% from the floor on 12-of-16 shooting. They entered halftime trailing by only two, 43-41.
Senior Jamar Nutter (Bloomfield, N.J.) continued his recent good shooting and led the Pirates with 18 points. The 6-foot-2 captain was 4-for-6 from three-point range and also pulled down six rebounds.
The Pirates also received a strong game from two of their big men. Sophomore John Garcia (Brentwood, N.Y.) played his best game in recent weeks, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds before fouling out. Freshman Mike Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 16 minutes off the bench.
Senior Brian Laing was mired in foul trouble in the first half, which limited him to only eight minutes, but the captain picked up his play in the second frame. In the end, he recorded his fifth double-double of the season and 11th of his career with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Seton Hall out-shot Villanova, 39.3%-to-38.9%, and out-rebounded them, 39-to-35. The teams tied with 10 turnovers a piece.
The Pirates will look to snap their three-game losing streak on Tuesday, Feb. 12 when they host Marquette at Prudential Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
