Villanova, PA (Sports Network) - Antonio Pena scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Scottie Reynolds added 14 points as well, helping No. 4 Villanova pull away in the second half for an 81-63 decision over Big 5 rival La Salle.
The Wildcats (6-0), fresh off their Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship, received 13 points, six steals and four assists from Corey Fisher. Dominic Cheek checked in with 10 points for the victors.
"You just can't come into these games thinking that things are going to work the way you want them to be," 'Nova head coach Jay Wright said. "I never really hold our team responsible for how they look in these games...I do hold them responsible for their effort and fighting through. That's exactly what we did today."
Kimmani Barrett had 17 points, while Jerrell Williams and Aaric Murray each logged 15 points and grabbed 16 and 14 rebounds, respectively, for La Salle (3-2), which had won two straight coming into the game.
The Wildcats led by eight at halftime and increased that margin to 45-31 after a pair of Pena free throws two minutes into the second half.
The Explorers responded with eight straight points, forcing Villanova to call a timeout. A subsequent 10-2 run by the Wildcats made it a double-digit game again, as Reynolds' layup with 11:16 remaining provided a 55-41 score.
A Reynolds three-pointer increased the difference to 69-51 with 6 1/2 minutes left, and the hosts cruised from there.
Villanova led wire-to-wire but never completely pulled away in the first half. Down 31-17 at the six-minute mark, La Salle embarked on an 8-0 run, with Rodney Green's three-point play capping the rally.
The Explorers trailed, 38-30, at intermission.
Game Notes
Villanova has won eight straight against La Salle and leads the all-time series, 33-26...The Wildcats have won 30 straight at the Pavilion...La Salle had nearly twice as many turnovers (27) as Villanova (14)...The Wildcats won despite getting outrebounded 51-34.