Villanova cruises past Temple after midnight
In a game that tipped off just minutes after midnight, Villanova defeated Temple, 73-48, at Temple's Liacouras Center in the first Big 5 game of the season.
Villanova (2-0, 1-0 Big 5) only had seven eligible players for the contest because of an NCAA violation by five Wildcat players related to the improper use of a university telephone access code.
Four of the seven eligible Villanova players scored in double digits, led by sophomore guards Randy Foye and Allen Ray, who each notched 20 points.
The Wildcats led Temple 32-22 at halftime and extended their lead in the second half.
Temple (0-1, 0-1) was led by senior guard David Hawkins, who scored a team-high 16 points for the Owls.
The unique starting time was the result of a scheduling dispute between the two schools that centered around Villanova wanting to reschedule the Nov. 21 game, so that the Wildcats would be able to play two Division-III teams before they participated in the Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The games against the Division-III opponents were scheduled to permit the five Villanova players to serve their suspensions before the Maui Invitational.
A resolution was reached, in which the two teams would play shortly after midnight on Nov. 21, the first day that the NCAA allows teams to play a non-exempt game.
This agreement allowed Villanova to fly out to California after the game and play the University of Redlands on Saturday.
The Wildcats topped the Bulldogs (0-1), 114-103, and will face Chaminade at 2 p.m. this afternoon in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.
Temple's next contest will be on Nov. 29 against Illinois at the Palestra. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
-- Ryan Howard
