NEWARK, N.J. – Villanova built an early lead and then held off a series of second half charges to down Delaware 78-70 here Saturday at the Never Forget Tribute Classic. Junior forward Jermaine Samuels led a balanced Nova attack with 18 points and also added five rebounds.
 
Delaware's Nate Darling led all scorers with 29 points.
 
"Delaware had a great game plan, executed it really well and played with great intensity," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "We're an inexperienced team and every situation in a game is a learning lesson for us. We learned a lot today. We've got a lot of work to do but we beat a good team today."
 
Both teams were on target in the game's opening minutes. Kevin Anderson opened the scoring with a 3-pointer for the Blue Hens and the Wildcats responded by dropping in their first three attempts from the field. Through the first 4:10 of the contest the teams were a combined 6-of-10 from the floor and Villanova held an 11-8 lead.
 
Three pointers on consecutive possessions from Saddiq Bey and Justin Moore helped Villanova build a 22-10 margin. But as the Wildcats' offense cooled, Delaware reeled off a 6-0 burst to shave its deficit to 22-16 as the contest reached the midpoint of the first half.
 
The Blue Hens' crisp offense resulted in 9-of-15 shooting (.600) over the first 12:45 of the game. Villanova's lead was 27-22. Two fouls on Bey – the 'Cats leading scorer entering this one at 16.7 points per outing – forced him to the bench.
 
"We're an inexperienced team and sometimes we don't mix it up enough," noted Wright. "We get 3 happy or get too focused on drives."
 
An offensive rebound and subsequent score by Cole Swider helped push the margin to 34-24 but Delaware (9-2 overall, 0-0 CAA) sank four of its last five attempts from the field and trailed 37-32 at intermission. Moore and Swider led a balanced 'Cats attack with eight points apiece while Darling's 11 points paced the Blue Hens. Delaware was 13-of-23 from the field in the period (.565) but just 2-of-8 at the line (.250).
 
Meanwhile, Villanova (8-2 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST) did not attempt a first half free throw.
 
The Blue Hens shaved the lead to 39-37 in the first two minutes of the second half but a interior basket and free throw by Bey made it 47-39. However, Delaware went on a 7-0 run to make it 47-46 as the clock dipped under 13 minutes.
 
Some quality defensive work by Samuels forced Blue Hens turnovers on consecutive possessions and the Wildcats stretched their lead to 59-51. Delaware closed to within 59-55 before the tandem of Samuels and Bey helped Nova craft a 68-58 edge with 3:42 to play in the period.
 
Delaware sank some late 3-pointers – they finished 9-of-17 from beyond the arc (.529) on the day – but never could pry the lead from the Wildcats. Samuels and Moore were a combined 8-of-8 from the line in the second half, helping keep the Blue Hens at bay.
 
"We try not to look at the results of the game but how we played as a team," stated Bey, who ended the day with 13 points. "That's how we evaluate ourselves. We have to look in the mirror at the end of the day. We've got to get back to work.
 
"That's what these games teach us – what we need to get better at. We don't want to get too high or too low."
 
Villanova now turns its focus to exam week before looking ahead to its next matchup, Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center when No. 2 Kansas comes to South Philadelphia (FS1 and 610 Sports Radio).
 
The 2019-20 season – Villanova's 100^th college basketball campaign – is presented by Hartford Funds and Coca-Cola.