Villanova Downs Temple to Advance to the Title Game on Saturday
VILLANOVA, PA. 12/1/2025 –
It was a simple as this. The winner of the game takes first place in the pod and will play in the Championship Game of the Men’s Big Five Classic. It will be Villanova who will play for the city title for the first time in the new format as they pull away late to beat the Temple Owls 74 – 56 at the Finneran Pavilion. Nova meets the University of Pennsylvania for the crown. A step forward to the Wildcats to play for an in-season championship.
“We talked about it the other day,” said Villanova Coach Kevin Willard. “Where we are trying to get this program back to, you’ve got to learn to win games that matter. To play Penn for the Big Five championship is an opportunity for this team, especially in today’s world with 13 guys who are basically brand new, to learn what it’s all about.”
Villanova had four players score in double figures led by guard Tyler Perkins with 19 points. Perkins played for Penn two seasons ago. He brings a great sense of excitement into the game showing it by simply saying an empathic “Yeah, I’m excited!” at the press conference.
Fellow backcourt mate Acaden Lewis scored 12 points and had a career-high tying 8 assists, and stole the ball twice.
Forward Duke Brennan scored 14 points and took down a game-high 8 rebounds, 6 off the offensive glass. That proved to be a big advantage for Villanova who had 21 offensive boards to 6 for Temple. This allowed the Wildcats to have a 43 – 24 advantage over the Owls in rebounds.
“I though we battled in the first half, but they wore us down and made timely threes in the second half,” said Temple Coach Adam Fisher. “You give up 21 offensive rebounds, it’s hard.”
Key Run of the Game
The Nova lead was at 44 – 42 with just under thirteen and a half minutes to play on a three-point basket by Owls guard Aiden Tobiason. Villaova scored the next seven straight to get some separation. Temple would not let the opponent get away and inched back to within 55 – 49 with 7:41 on the clock.
The decisive Wildcats run started a minute and twenty seconds later. A three-pointer by Perkins at the 6:27 mark off a steal and assist by guard Acaden Lewis stretched the lead to 60 – 49.
The Cats scored the next 5 points until a basket by Owls guard Derrian Ford at the with just over three and a half minutes on the clock ended the spurt.
“When you can get your defense going at home, it makes a big difference,” Willard said.
What the Numbers Say
For Temple Tobiason scored a team-best 15 points while Ford added 14 points. Jordan Mason contributed 12 points.
Up Next
The Big Five Classic Championship where Villanova plays in the title game.
The third place game features Temple against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks.
“We got to regroup and get ready for St. Joe’s in the center,” Fisher said.
Drexel goes against La Salle in the fifth place game.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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