Dec. 22, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Action Photos 
VILLANOVA OPENS WITH A RUN: The Wildcats opened the game with a 12-0 run in the first 3:51 of the contest. During that span the team made its first five shots of the game, including three-pointers by Scottie Reynolds and Shane Clark. Columbia was forced to use its first timeout at the 17:42 mark with the Wildcats ahead 7-0. The Lions eventually got on the board on a three-pointer by K.J. Matsui with 15:44 remaining in the period. Columbia missed its first five shots and turned the ball over three times before scoring its first points.
BALANCED SCORING IN FIRST HALF: Villanova led 41-24 at halftime and featured six different players with at least five points in the period. Scottie Reynolds led the team with eight points, while Corey Stokes and Reggie Redding added seven points apiece. Dante Cunningham, Corey Fisher and Shane Clark each scored five points. As a team, the Wildcats made 15-of-28 shots (53.6%) in the period.
CUNNINGHAM DOUBLE FIGURES IN REBOUNDS: For the second game in a row and third time in the last four outings, Dante Cunningham registered double figures in rebounding in tonight's game. Cunningham finished tonight's contest with nine points and 12 rebounds. Villanova owned a 39-27 edge on the glass and held its opponent to fewer than 30 rebounds for the third time this season.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH: Villanova used just eight players in tonight's contest and receiving scoring from all eight players. Shane Clark led the team with 15 points and Scottie Reynolds added 14 points. Seven of the eight players who saw time scored at least seven points in the contest.
COLUMBIA HANGS TOUGH: After opening the game with a 12-0 run and leading 41-19 late in the first half, Villanova never did fully pull away from Columbia. The Lions trimmed the deficit to 62-52 with under five minutes remaining before the Wildcats closed the game with a 10-4 run to seal the victory.
FREE THROW SHOOTING: Villanova made 13-of-16 free throws for the game, including 8-of-11 in the second half, to keep the Lions from getting any closer than 10 points down the stretch. The Wildcats were also 5-for-5 from the line in the opening period.
