UConn Falls to Villanova in Philadelphia

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Boxscore (.pdf)

PHILADELPHIA, PA (February 15) --  Senior guard Gary Buchanan poured in 28 points including 6 of 12 from behind the three point arc, as Villanova upended the University of Connecticut men's basketball team 79-70, in front of 16,241 people at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

With the loss, UConn slips to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in BIG EAST play, while the Wildcats move into sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST East division with a 7-3 league mark and an overall record of 14-9.

UConn was led in scoring by Ben Gordon (Mt. Vernon, NY) with 25 points while Emeka Okafor (Houston, TX) notched his 14th double-double of the year with 18 points and 16 rebounds.  Freshman Marcus White (Chicago, IL) was solid underneath,  pulling down 10 boards.  The Huskies were hampered by a season high 24 turnovers while Villanova turned the ball over just eight times.   

Villanova led 36-33 at the half and the Huskies took the lead for much of the early phases of the second half.  A Derrick Snowden Basket with 11:41 to go gave the Wildcats a 52-51 lead which they would not relinquish.  Nova opened up a seven point lead at 65-58 with 5:06 to go and led by as many as 10 points in the latter part of the game.  UConn did close the lead to two, 65-63, with 4:13 to play, but Villanova responded with five straight points on a basket by Wright and a three by Buchanan to seal the victory.

Wright scored 13 for the Wildcats.

UConn will look to get back on track Wednesday February 19th at 7pm as they take on Rutgers at the Hartford Civic Center.