Dec 1, 2001

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Gary Buchanan scored 24 points and Brooks Sales had 10 points and 10 rebounds as Villanova defeated Bucknell 69-45 on Saturday.

Ricky Wright added 12 points for Villanova (3-1), which used a big size advantage to post a 40-24 edge on the boards.

Chris Rodgers had a career-high 12 points and Boakai Lalueba had 11 for Bucknell, now 1-5.

Leading 36-26 one minute into the second half, the Wildcats took a 50-32 lead on a 3-point shot by Buchanan. After Bucknell scored eight straight points, Villanova went on a 19-2 run, eight of the points by Buchanan, to take its biggest lead of the game 69-42.

Villanova never trailed in the game, and used a 15-1 spurt capped by a steal and layup by Derrick Snowden to take a 32-15 advantage with 3:24 left in the first half.

The game was the first between the schools since 1948, with Villanova now holding an 11-8 edge in the all-time series that began in 1927.