PHILADELPHIA -- Allan Ray matched his season high with 26
points and No. 4 Villanova equaled its best start in the Big East
with a 79-73 victory over Louisville on Monday night.
The Wildcats (16-2, 7-1) twice seemed to have control of the
game with a double-digit lead but the Cardinals (14-7, 2-6) pulled
close twice before losing for the fifth time in six games.
As usual, Villanova relied on its four guards for almost of its
offense. Mike Nardi had 20 points, Randy Foye added 19, all but two
in the first half, and Kyle Lowry had eight. They came into the
game accounting for 79 percent of the Wildcats' points and the four
had all but five of the points in the 72-70, last-second win over
Notre Dame on Saturday.
Villanova started 7-1 in the Big East in 1982-83.
Taquan Dean had 23 points and seven assists for Louisville,
which continues to struggle in its first season in the Big East.
The Cardinals, who were ranked seventh in the preseason poll and
reached as high as No. 4 during the season, fell out of the Top 25
on Monday.
Villanova had an 11-point lead in the first half that Louisville
cut to five at the half. The Wildcats again used the 3-pointer,
they finished with 14, to pull away to a 63-48 lead, but the
Cardinals chipped away by going inside and they got within 70-69
with 3:40 to play on a basket by David Padgett.
Ray made two free throws and scored on a layup before Foye
scored on a putback with 1:45 left that made it 76-68.
Villanova finished 14-for-26 from 3-point range, while
Louisville was 12-of-23 from behind the arc.<
^No. 20 Ohio St. 95, Florida A&M 53=
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.J. Sullinger matched his career high
with 24 points and Je'Kel Foster added 18 for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (15-3) moved to 11-0 against non-conference teams
this season, the first year they've gone unbeaten outside of the
Big Ten since the 1990-91 team went 10-0 while winning its first 17
games.
Sullinger scored 19 points in the first half and Ohio State led
41-29 at the break.
Rome Sanders led Florida A&M (10-11) with 15 points.
Ivan Harris scored 15 points and Matt Sylvester finished with 14
for the Buckeyes.