PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jared Bynum scored 17 of his 19 factors after halftime and hit a key leap shot and two free throws late on to assist Twenty third-ranked Windfall defeat Villanova 70-65 on Sunday.
The sport was performed on the Wells Fargo Middle and completed about an hour earlier than the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC Championship sport throughout the road at Lincoln Monetary Stadium. There have been some Eagles cheers and a whole lot of inexperienced jerseys all around the area.
Ed Croswell scored 14 factors, Bryce Hopkins 13 and Devin Carter scored 12 for the Fires (17-5, 9-2 Massive East). Windfall was down by seven halfway via the second half earlier than gathering its power.
“It reveals our guys are resilient and might compete once we’re not at our greatest,” mentioned Windfall coach Ed Cooley. “So, that was actually good for us.”
Cam Whitmore scored 21 factors to guide Villanova (10-11, 4-6), who returned to the court docket after an eight-day layoff. Eric Dixon added 14 factors and Caleb Daniels and Brandon Slater scored 10 every.
The Wildcats cannot include Bynum down the stretch.
“Big. “He took over the sport,” Cooley mentioned.
Windfall was holding on to a one-point lead within the last minute when Bynum transformed a one-foot working again jumper with 24.7 seconds to play.
“It isn’t a shot I normally take, however we observe these pictures for moments like that,” Bynum mentioned. “It got here in useful.”
After a Villanova turnover, Bynum was fouled and made two free throws throughout a one-and-one state of affairs with 13 seconds left for the win.
“I have been in conditions like this all my life,” he mentioned.
It was the second sport within the lineup after 4 have been missed as a result of an stomach pressure by Bynum, who had transferred to Windfall from Saint Joseph’s.
“He says they seem to be a good group and now we have robust aspirations for what we’re making an attempt to do,” Bynum mentioned of the win.
Justin Moore returned to motion with Villanova for the primary time since struggling an Achilles tear in Villanova’s 50-44 Elite Eight win over Houston final spring.
The house crowd cheered when Moore was lastly launched into the Wildcats’ beginning lineup and cheered once more when the 6-foot-4 massive guard made his first basket on a left hander three minutes into the sport. Moore completed with 5 factors.
“It was nice to be with my teammates,” Moore mentioned. They have been excited for me and I used to be excited. We simply wished to deal with taking part in more durable than the opposite group and competing.”
Whitmore’s nook 3 broke the tie 42 and began the second interval 7-0 for Villanova. The surge ended with an inside basket by Whitmore that made it 49-42 with 10:41 to play, matching the Wildcats’ largest result in that time.
However then Windfall bought scorching from a distance. The brothers missed the primary 11 makes an attempt from behind the arc earlier than discovering their stroke.
“I mentioned, ‘We will do 3 seconds,'” Cooley mentioned of his message.
He was proper.
Hopkins 3 with 6:44 left put the Friars forward 58-55. Bynum led dramatically via that stretch, scoring 10 factors throughout Windfall’s run of over 4:44 on a pair of 3s and two tackles.
The Friars’ benefit elevated to 6 when Bynum and Noah Locke hit 3s on consecutive dwelling runs from reverse sides of the sector, making it 64-58 with 3:57 left. However Villanova scored 5 of the subsequent seven, capping off one other Whitmore 3, to make it 66-65 with 1:54 remaining earlier than Bynum sealed it.
“It is a good group,” mentioned first-year Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. “They will not hand over on you. Sadly, they handle to make robust pictures.”
Moore’s return
Moore was projected to be a late first spherical or early second spherical choose in final yr’s NBA Draft earlier than his harm. He’ll need to shake off the rust and present scouts he is wholesome to get again to that time. However there have been positively good indicators for Moore, together with when he drove arduous to the basket for a bucket 4 1/2 minutes into the primary half.
Moore recorded 4 factors, three rebounds and an help within the opening 20 minutes to assist the Wildcats take a 31-28 halftime lead.
The Massive Image
Windfall: The Friars face a giant sport at No. 13 Xavier on Wednesday as they appear to repeat the common season title within the Massive East Convention. They began Sunday play half a sport behind the Knights within the Massive East. Win or lose, Windfall is well-positioned to achieve its seventh NCAA Match look in 12 years underneath Cooley. The Monks even have the expertise to make a second straight journey to the Candy 16.
Villanova: With Moore again and Villanova wanting energized, the Wildcats will probably be trying to get away of the center of the pack and transfer up the Massive East standings. They’ve received seven of the final 9 common season titles, and will present a late-season increase with Moore’s return. All of these championships, after all, have been underneath former head coach Jay Wright, who surprisingly retired after final season.
Coach room
Villanova: Jordan Longino (left hamstring) missed his sixth straight sport. The 6-foot-5 guard averages 6.2 factors.
subsequent one
Windfall: At No. 13 Xavier on Wednesday.
Villanova: In sixteenth place Marquette on Wednesday.
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