November 27, 1998

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Howard Brown scored 18 points and Malik Allen sparked a late rally as Villanova survived a scare from Mount St. Mary's and defeated the Mountaineers 71-68 on Friday night.

Allen and John Celestand each had 11 points for Villanova (5-0), while Terrence Wilson, who connected on all eight of his shots, had 16 for Mount St. Mary's (1-2).

The Mountaineers hit on 10 of their first 12 shots in the second half to take the biggest lead of the game, 60-50, on a hook shot by Konata Springer with 9:11 to play.

Villanova then ran off 10 straight points and tied the score at 60 on an Allen layup. After a three-point shot by the Mountaineers Tony Hayden put Mount St. Mary's ahead 63-60, the Wildcats went on a 9-1 run capped by Allen's three-point play and led 69-64 with 3:31 left.

Villanova went ahead 71-68 and Mount St. Mary's had a chance to tie but Gregory Harris' 3-point shot with two seconds left rimmed the hoop and came out.

The first half saw 12 lead changes, with Mount St. Mary's taking the biggest lead of the half on a three-point shot by Wilson. However, Villanova scored the final five points, and a jumper by Allen created a 38-38 tie at the half.

Mount St. Mary's coach Jim Phelan, in his 45th year at the school, is the winningest active coach in college basketball with a record of 786-430.