VILLANOVA, Pa. – Freshman guard RJ Smith scored a career and team-high 13 points off the bench, and La Salle men's basketball battled Villanova throughout much of the night before the Wildcats pulled away in the closing minutes for an 80-59 victory in a Big 5 matchup Tuesday at Finneran Pavilion.
The Explorers (1-2) showcased their defensive toughness and stayed within striking distance against their Big 5 rival, keeping the game competitive well into the second half. Smith paced the offense in shooting 6-of-12 from the field in 22 minutes. Graduate student forward Noah Collier added season-highs with 11 points and seven rebounds in a team-high 29 minutes.
Despite the final margin, La Salle's defensive pressure gave the Wildcats problems throughout the opening half. The Explorers limited Villanova to 40% shooting in the first 20 minutes and forced the Wildcats to work for their scoring opportunities. La Salle also outrebounded Villanova 41-39 in the contest, including a 18-10 edge on the offensive glass.
Smith led the way early, scoring nine first-half points as La Salle worked to overcome an early deficit. Trailing 28-19 midway through the opening period, the Explorers responded with a defensive push and timely baskets to cut the margin to 28-24 with under four minutes remaining. Smith knocked down a transition 3-pointer and followed with a driving basket before the Wildcats carried a 36-31 advantage into halftime.
The Explorers opened the second half with a Kam Burton 3-pointer before Collier converted a layup to trim the deficit to 38-36. Villanova answered with a dunk from Suigo, and Perkins followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 45-38.
La Salle continued to battle, staying within seven points at 57-50 with 11 minutes remaining. However, the Wildcats gradually created separation behind their interior scoring and improved shooting.
The Explorers made one final push, cutting the deficit to 64-55 with just over seven minutes to play. Villanova responded by closing the contest on a 16-4 run, shooting 70.8% from the field in the second half to secure the 80-59 victory.
La Salle returns to action Sunday, Nov. 15 at John E. Glaser Arena to continue Big 5 play against Temple (1-1). Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
