Great Games in Penn History: December 6, 1988

Villanova was ranked 17th in the nation. Penn was on its way to a 13-13 record. For one night, it didn't matter. For 40 minutes last night, the Penn men's basketball team dodged fate. Villanova brought a top-20 national ranking, a 7-foot-3 center, a star guard and a five-year winning streak over the Quakers into the game. But Penn shocked the Wildcats, 71-70, before 5,710 fans in the Palestra. "Penn made key shots at key times," Villanova coach Rollie Massimino said. "Penn established the tempo of the game, and did a good job pressuring the ball when they got it." Every time the Quakers forged ahead to create whispers of an upset, the Wildcats, or more specifically junior center Tom Greis (career-high 32 points), came back to silence them. But in the last minute Penn roared. Quakers junior forward Jose Tavarez converted an offensive rebound for a 67-65 lead, which Penn never relinquished. "Our whole game plan was to make Villanova play a different style than they wanted to," Tavarez said. "We treated every possession as if it was golden to us, and we played defense as if every shot by Villanova could sink us." "This is the greatest win of my career," said Penn senior guard Walt Frazier, who led the Quakers with 25 points. "We hustled, we fought and we scrapped. Everybody contributed and we were able to play our game." The Quakers' strategy featured a slow-down offense that enabled them to take advantage of their perimeter game and to confound Villanova's zone defense. "Because of Villanova's size and the press, we didn't want to try to go up and down the court with them," Penn coach Tom Schneider said. "Instead, we decided to use more set plays, and we used the clock to our advantage." Penn's game was right on target from the start, as the Quakers reeled off the first 11 points. The Wildcats were held scoreless until -- who else -- Greis nailed a five-foot jumper in the lane five minutes into the game. "Coach Schneider gave the most inspiring pep talk I've ever heard," Tavarez said, "and we came out flying." Penn shot only 42 percent from the floor during the game but made all of the big shots, including eight-of-11 three-pointers. The Quakers also gave up only 12 turnovers, their lowest total of the season. "We had so few turnovers that Villanova never had the chance to run up the points," Schneider said. More importantly, Penn was able to hold its own in the rebounding department against the taller Wildcats, as each team pulled down 31 rebounds. Perhaps none was as crucial as Tavarez's rebound and lay-in with 1 minute, 17 seconds remaining. "That won the game for us," Frazier said. But Penn would never have been in a position to win the game had not Frazier himself taken command of the offense in the second half. Villanova was able to overcome Penn's 11-point run by passing inside to forward Rodney Taylor (eight points, 10 rebounds) and Greis and took a 31-30 lead into the locker room. "In the second half, I felt it was time to take over," Frazier said. "I'm the only senior on the team, and it is my responsibility to lead." Frazier led by example, scoring 18 points, including four three-pointers, in the final 20 minutes. Additionally, he earned an important assist by breaking Villanova's press and feeding Tavarez (six points), who laid it up for an easy two; the basket gave Penn a 65-63 lead with three minutes remaining. Frazier also sunk both ends of a one-and-one with 46 seconds remaining. These points nullified the effect of a three-pointer by Wildcats guard Doug West with three seconds left. That was West's only trey of the game, and it was too little too late. "I'm elated," Penn center Hassan Duncombe said. "We thought if we were able to get the game to our pace, we could play with them. We did exactly that, and I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. This could turn the basketball program around." The Wildcats didn't sink much all game, shooting only 38 percent from the floor. West (three of 10 from the floor, 11 points, two rebounds) and forward Gary Massey (seven points, three rebounds) were stopped by Penn's 2-3 zone. Villanova's only consistent weapon was Greis. His presence under the basket prevented Penn from effectively moving the ball inside, and his offense singlehandedly kept the Wildcats in the game. "Greis got us into foul trouble," Schneider said. "He is so big and has a great touch. We had no choice but to foul him." The strategy worked, and Penn was able to hold on for the win. "Last year we were beaten by all those top 20 teams," Frazier said. "This year, we're trying to make them give us some respect. Villanova will have to give us some respect now."

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