Villanova runs past Providence 92-81

Despite a sloppy first half that featured 12 Villanova turnovers, the Wildcats were able to regroup in the final 20 minutes and put away the pesky Friars. Here are the significant notes from today’s game:

• In what was possibly the most blatant turning point in the history of basketball, Scottie Reynolds was rewarded with four free throw attempts after Providence’s Sharaud Curry was given both a personal and technical foul. The two fouls also pushed his total to five, forcing him to watch the remaining 8:07 from the bench. At the time Curry led the team with 19 points. Reynolds hit three of the free throws to push the lead up to 67-60, and Villanova never looked back.
• Reynolds took over in the second half again, this time scoring 17 points after scoring just five in the first half due to foul trouble.
• While Reynolds gets the headlines, Corey Fisher continues to produce at a high level. The junior guard tied with Reynolds for a game-high 22 points.
• Antonio Pena was also a force for the Wildcats. His 15 points and 12 rebounds were his sixth double-double of the season. Jay Wright also credited Pena as being the main reason that the Wildcats were able to keep Providence leading scorer Jamine Peterson quiet for most of the game.
• Taylor King continued to struggle from the floor, and has hit just one of ten shots in his last two games.
• After not seeing any action against West Virginia, Mouphtaou Yarou played five minutes. Wright said after the game that today’s game was not the ideal matchup for Yarou.
• Maalik Wayns, who played just three minutes in his last game, had 4 points in 14 minutes before fouling out.
• After turning the ball over 12 times in the first half, the Wildcats turned it over just three times in the second half.
• Villanova dominated the paint, outscoring Providence 46-24.

– David Cassilo