Dec. 2, 2008
Box Score | Notes
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (AP) -
Dante Cunningham had 20 points and 11 rebounds,
Corey Stokes scored 14 points and No. 17 Villanova cruised again in a 69-47 victory over Penn on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (7-0) have won every game by at least 13 points and have fattened their record against teams that won't come close to cracking the Top 25. Coach Jay Wright defended Villanova's soft nonconference schedule by suggesting games against four Philadelphia schools are almost like playing a Big East school.
Connecticut and Pittsburgh will surely prove a stiffer test.
Harrison Gaines led Penn with 14 points.
Cunningham made his first four shots from the field and the Wildcats led 22-9 before those hot Palestra pretzels had time to cool.
Once an Ivy League power under former coach Fran Dunphy, the Quakers (1-5) haven't clicked under Glen Miller and lost their third straight game. They need to find some steady scoring before the conference season opens on Jan. 30.
Scottie Reynolds opened the second half with a 3 and Corey Fisher's steal led to Cunningham's baseline jumper for a 41-24 lead. Stokes quickly hit Villanova's sixth 3-pointer for a 20-point lead and all but wrap up the win.
Stokes made three 3s in the first half and the Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in taking a 36-24 lead.
Dwayne Anderson returned to the Wildcats after missing the first six games with a foot injury. The 6-foot-6 guard-forward hit a 3-pointer late in the first half for his only points of the game.
His return might help soften the blow of losing Casiem Drummond. The 6-10 junior told the coaching staff on Monday that he will leave the Big East school and transfer.
Anderson should help the Wildcats once Big East play starts on Jan. 1, at Marquette.
All the Division I city schools, except Drexel, play each other every season which automatically fills up four spots on the schedule. The Wildcats have games this month against Saint Joseph's, La Salle and Temple.
Villanova had won a record 14 straight city series games, also known as the Big 5, before losing to the Hawks last February.
The Wildcats will likely remain undefeated after Thursday's game against Houston Baptist, then have their first tough test of the season against No. 8 Texas at the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden.
That game will mark the first time this season Villanova will leave the Philadelphia area.
