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Villanova Basketball: 3 things learned from win over Boston College

By Trevor Sinodhinos

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate the 74-72 win over the Seton Hall Pirates during the Big East Championship Game to claim the Big East title at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate the 74-72 win over the Seton Hall Pirates during the Big East Championship Game to claim the Big East title at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Villanova Basketball
Villanova Basketball Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Villanova Basketball opened the season with a solid win over Boston College.

Wednesday night, No.3 Villanova Basketball took on Boston College Basketball at 2K Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun. The Jay Wright-led Wildcats were ranked No.10 in the final AP Poll when the 2019-20 college basketball season unfortunately and unceremoniously ended. All the goals the Wildcats were eyeing have been transferred over to the 2020-21 season as they return four of their five starters.

The second-winningest program over the past five years benefitted from a Caleb Daniels three-pointer thirty-one seconds into the season, while it was early in the game, it foreshadowed how the game and perhaps even the season is going to play out.

The Wildcats were unable to create any distance on the scoreboard during the first half by shooting 44 percent from the field and connecting on five baskets in the paint. In contrast, the Eagles managed to make 12 two-point field goals with just two from outside the paint to go into half-time tied 34-34.

A three-pointer by guard Rich Kelley gave the Eagles a 49-41 lead with 15:51 left in the game. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl would answer with five straight points for the Wildcats, a run that would end with a Rich Kelly lay-up and a Makai Ashton-Langford three-pointer to put the Eagles up by eight with 14:08 left.

An over five-minute scoring drought by the Eagles allowed the Wildcats to go on an 11-1 run and take a 59-58 lead. Back and forth baskets would leave Villanova with a 67-66 lead at the 3:36 TV Timeout.

The buzzer for the timeout might as well have been the final buzzer, for the game was essentially over at that juncture. After that time out the Wildcats gave up just one point to win the game 76-67 to go 1-0 on the season.