Hofstra Pride vs Villanova Wildcats Box Score on Dec 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 22, 2017

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Five players, led by Mikal Bridges' 20 points, scored in double figures as top-ranked Villanova defeated Hofstra 95-71 on Friday night at the Nassau Coliseum.

Justin Wright-Foreman had 25 points to lead Hofstra, which struggled with turnovers, finishing with 13 for the game.

In head coach Jay Wright's first game against his former team -- Wright coached the Pride from 1994-2001 but had not faced them since -- the Wildcats (12-0) rebounded from an early deficit with a three-point onslaught.

Villanova shot 47.9 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from 3-point range, turning to the long-distance game after Hofstra (7-5) led 9-7 at the first timeout. Coming out of the break, Donte DiVincenzo hit a quick 3-pointer to give Villanova the one-point lead, an edge it would not relinquish.

The Wildcats had three more 3s in the next five minutes, finishing 8 of 18 from behind the arc in the first half as Phil Booth led the way with four.

After going ahead 14-13 with 12:56 left in the first half, Villanova went on a 38-18 run the rest of the first half, as Bridges, Booth and Omari Spellman, each had double-figures by the break.

Spellman finished the game with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including going 3-for-4 from long-range, and Booth added 17. DiVincenzo had 16 off the bench for the Wildcats, whose reserves outscored Hofstra's 22-13.

Center Rokas Gustys added 11 points for the Pride, their only other player in double-figures.

NOTES: Villanova moved to 5-0 in the all-time series against Hofstra; the two teams last met in 1997-98 in an 86-74 Villanova win. Wright was the head coach for the Pride at the time. ... Villanova opens Big East play after a brief Christmas break, heading to DePaul on Dec. 27. ... Hofstra has a long layoff before beginning Colonial Athletic Association play on Dec. 30 at William & Mary. ... Villanova has won 18 of its last 19 games, dating back to last season, including this year's 12-0 start.