Dec 9, 2003

Box Score

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Mike Nardi scored a season-high 20 points and Curtis Sumpter added 18, leading Villanova to a 73-63 win over Penn on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (5-2) won their second straight game and are 3-0 in the Big Five. Villanova has already beaten Temple and La Salle.

Adam Chubb led the Quakers (2-4) with 17 points. The Quakers have lost both Big Five games.

Villanova stretched an eight-point halftime lead to 14 after a 3-pointer by Nardi capped a 9-0 spurt. The Quakers, though, pulled to 64-55 with two minutes left when they got a steal in the backcourt and Jeff Schiffner, who scored 13 points, was fouled on a driving layup attempt.

Schiffner sank both free throws, cutting the deficit to seven. Villanova's Allan Ray sank one of two free throws on the next possession.

Schiffner made one of two free throws, then Villanova turned the ball over and Charlie Copp made a layup to make it 65-60 with 1:13 left.

Randy Foye then made two free throws and Penn's Adam Chubb was whistled for an offensive foul with just under a minute left.

Jeff Schiffner sank a 3-pointer with 48.1 seconds to go, making it 69-63, but the Quakers wouldn't get any closer as Villanova sealed the win from the free-throw line. Villanova scored its last 17 points from the free-throw line.

Foye added 16 points and Ray had 13.

The Wildcats took away Penn's 3-point shooting - its most effective offensive threat.

Against Indiana State, Copp went 6-for-7 from beyond the arc, Schiffner had seven 3s last week against Saint Joseph's and the Quakers were averaging nearly 10 a game.

Penn was only 5-for-20 from 3-point range.

The Wildcats went on a 19-7 run in the first half, getting consecutive 3-pointers from Foye and Ray to tie the score at 9, then a layup and another 3 by Ray put them ahead for good.

Villanova shot 46 percent and led 29-21 at halftime.

Gov. Ed Rendell was at the game.