Feb 18, 2004

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VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Allan Ray scored 29 points to lead four players in double figures as Villanova defeated Virginia Tech 80-68 Wednesday night.

Randy Foye scored 16, Mike Nardi had 12 and Curtis Sumpter added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (14-10, 6-5 Big East), who snapped a two-game skid.

Villanova shot 64.3 percent from the field. The Wildcats are 11-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better.

Bryant Matthews, who entered the game averaging a team-best 23.4 points per game, had 16 points to lead Virginia Tech (10-12, 3-8). Matthews, plagued by foul trouble in the first half, scored 12 of his points in the final 7:04.

Jamon Gordon (12) and Coleman Collins (11) also reached double-figures for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech, which trailed 46-36 at halftime, closed within 48-40 a little over a minute into the second half after back-to-back layups by Markus Sailes. But Villanova held the Hokies to two field goals over the next 6:32 and led 63-45 on Sumpter's 3-point play.

The Hokies got as close as 69-59 with 4:10 left, but Ray had two 3s as Villanova scored eight of the next 10 to put the game out of reach.