Nov. 6, 2014 VILLANOVA, Pa. - On Sunday afternoon, Philadelphia area basketball fans will have the unique opportunity to receive free tickets to watch the No. 12 ranked Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center. The box office will open at 9 a.m. to allow fans to claim their tickets to the exhibition contest that begins at noon between Villanova and Nyack.
This will be the second pre-season tune-up this week for the `Cats, who handled Northwood, coached by Rollie Massimino, 93-50 on Tuesday night at the Pavilion. Villanova opens its 2014-15 regular season on Friday, Nov. 14, against Lehigh in Allentown at the new PPL Center.
After Sunday's game, the Wildcats players and head coach Jay Wright will sign autographs on the court.
"I'm really proud and excited that Villanova University is allowing Philadelphia fans the opportunity to experience Villanova Basketball with free tickets against Nyack," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "I hope the fans can take advantage of this and get the chance to meet our players after the game."
Those seeking tickets may claim them at the Box Office beginning at 9 a.m. Anyone who has a ticket reserved can pick those up at the Will Call window starting at 11 a.m. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis with lower bowl seats being distributed first.
Nyack College is led by third-year head coach Jason Crafton, who spent two years on the Villanova staff as its video coordinator from 2003-05 after completing a playing career at Nyack. He departed the Wildcats to join the coaching staff of another former VU aide, Billy Lange, at Navy in 2005 and remained in Annapolis through 2012. At that point he was hired to lead his alma mater, which had won a single game in 2011-12. Crafton has steadily re-built the Warriors in his tenure, doubling the team's win total from his first season to his second. That climb is expected to continue this season.
Villanova returns to the Wells Fargo Center, where it posted a 3-1 regular season record last season en route to its first outright BIG EAST regular season championship since 1982. The Wildcats have hosted games in Philadelphia since 1950, primarily at the Palestra, Spectrum and, since 1996, Wells Fargo Center.
The tradition is renewed again this Sunday and fans of all ages can share the experience simply by approaching the Box Office after 9 a.m.
