The Wildcats Drew Away Late in the First Half en route to a 90 – 63 Win Over Penn
PHILADELPHIA, PA 12/6/2025 –
The Villanova Wildcats won their first Big Five Classic Championship 90 – 63 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. It is the 30th overall city title for Villanova. Wildcats forward Duke Brennan led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds recoding his third double-double of the season. Three other Villanova players scored in double figures. Bryce Lindsay had a game-high 18 points, Devin Askew added 17 points, while Matthew Hodge contributed 12 points. Acaden Lewis scored 9 points and had 7 assists.
Nova had a 34 – 16 edge in points in the paint.
For the University of Pennsylvania TJ Power, Michael Zanoni, and Cam Thrower each scored 11 points.
The Deciding Run
With the game tied at 27 with over five and a half minutes remaining in the first half Villanova went on a 17 – 2 run starting with an Acaden Lewis basket in the paint. The stretch lasted until halftime. The highlight of the run came at the end of the half. Askew made a layup off a steal with 11 seconds on the clock. Five seconds later Wildcats guard Christian Jeffery stole the ball and fed Malachi Palmer for a layup for a 44 – 29 halftime lead.
The lead would stretch to as many as 30 points in the second half.
Fifth Place Game
The La Salle got off to a first half lead and withstood a Drexel Dragons rally to win 69 – 64. Josiah Harris scored a game-high 21 points for the Explorers. Garfield Turner led the Dragons with 12 points.
Third Place Game
In the most exciting game of the day the Saint Joseph’s Hawks won 70 – 69 over the Temple Owls on a buzzer-beating three-point basket by Duece Jones who scored a team-high 17 points. Temple took a 69 – 67 lead with15 seconds on the clock on two free throws by Jordan Mason before the Jones deciding basket. Derrian Ford scored a game-high 27 points for the Owls.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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