Dec. 29, 2007

Recap | Box Score | AP Action Photos

VILLANOVA STRETCHES BIG FIVE WINNING STREAK: With tonight's 71-58 victory, the Wildcats extended their all-time record winning streak against Big Five opponents to 14 straight victories. Villanova set the record earlier this season with its 101-93 win at Temple on December 9. The last loss in City Series play for the Wildcats was to Temple, 53-52, on December 4, 2004.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR CUNNINGHAM: Junior forward Dante Cunningham posted his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds in tonight's game. Cunningham has rebounded in double figures four times this season, with all of those games coming in the last five contests. For the season, Cunningham is averaging 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Those marks rank fourth and second on the team, respectively.

SECOND HALF SHOOTING: After shooting 50 percent (17-34) in the first 20 minutes, the Wildcats missed their first seven shots of the second half. Villanova made 3-of-4 free throws during that stretch and only saw their 13-point halftime cushion cut into by three points. The Wildcats led 46-36 when Antonio Pena made a layup with 14:39 left to make the score 48-36. In all, Villanova missed 13 of its first 14 shots in the first 10 minutes of the second period. The Wildcats ended up shooting 34.6 percent (9-of-26) in the half.

TRADING POINTS: Villanova led 43-30 at halftime and for the entire second half kept the lead in a range between nine and 15 points. La Salle's Jerrell Williams made a free throw with 3:14 left that trimmed the Wildcat lead to 60-51. That was as close the Explorers got in the second half, and a free throw by Corey Fisher with 1:38 remaining gave the Wildcats their largest lead at 68-53.