Delaware Blue Hens vs Villanova Wildcats Box Score on Dec 14, 2019

Jermaine Samuels scored 18 points, Justin Moore added 16 and No. 20 Villanova held off Delaware 78-70 Saturday in the Never Forget Tribute Classic in Newark, N.J.

Saddiq Bey contributed 13 points and Cole Swider had 12 for the Wildcats, who improved to 8-2 following their fourth win in a row. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl also had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Villanova is now 15-0 all-time against the Blue Hens.

Nate Darling led Delaware with 29 points while Kevin Anderson added 14. It was the second straight loss for the Blue Hens after starting the season 9-0.

Ryan Allen had 10 for Delaware, which has never beaten a ranked opponent in program history.

Swider drained a 3-pointer from the corner to give Villanova a 25-16 lead with 9:33 remaining in the first half.

Anderson hit his first four shots and helped Delaware stay within 27-22.

Collin Gillespie's first 3-pointer pushed the Wildcats ahead 37-29, but Darling responded with a deep trey for Delaware, which cut the lead to five again with 1:09 left.

Villanova wasn't able to release a shot on its final possession and led 37-32 heading into the locker room. The Wildcats didn't attempt a single free throw in the first 20 minutes.

Delaware cut the lead to two early in the second half, but Villanova quickly extended its lead to seven at 44-37 when Jermaine Samuels converted a three-point play.

Bey also took advantage of a three-point play for a 47-39 Villanova lead with 14:11 remaining.

The Blue Hens scored the next seven points and their deficit was only 47-46 when Darling made a 3-pointer from the corner.

The Wildcats slowly stretched it out ahead again as Bey scored in the lane for a 59-51 lead just past the midway point.

After Delaware got within seven, it missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Bey responded with a trey for a 68-58 advantage with 4:22 remaining.

Darling's trey went in and out with Delaware trailing 68-60 and only 2:01 left. On Villanova's next possession, Samuels hit a layup and the 10-point lead was more than enough of a cushion.

--Field Level Media