Villanova breezes past Delaware 80-60 in NCAA March Madness 1st round

PITTSBURGH — Justin Moore scored 21 factors, Collin Gillespie added 14 and second-seeded Villanova had little bother with Fifteenth-seeded Delaware, beating the Blue Hens 80-60 within the first spherical of the NCAA Event on Friday.

The Wildcats (27-7) used a 35-10 surge spanning the top of the primary half and the beginning of the second to show an eight-point deficit right into a blowout. Villanova will meet Ohio State within the second spherical of the South Area on Sunday. The No. 7-seeded Buckeyes unleashed their protection and downed Loyola Chicago 54-41 within the first of 4 video games at PPG Paints Enviornment.

Delaware (22-13) confirmed some early combat towards its northern neighbor in a gathering of packages separated by 43 miles on the map and significantly extra within the faculty basketball panorama.

It wasn’t almost sufficient as Villanova overwhelmed the Blue Hens beneath a barrage of 3-pointers to start the varsity’s quest for a 3rd nationwide title in seven seasons.

Jyare Davis led Delaware with 17 factors however over the course of 40 minutes, Villanova uncovered the appreciable gulf between colleges which are bitter rivals in a number of sports activities, simply not basketball. Jameer Nelson Jr., the son of the previous Saint Joseph’s and NBA star who commonly battled the Wildcats as a part of town’s Large 5, was restricted to eight factors on 3-of-13 taking pictures.

Early on, the Colonial Athletic Affiliation champion Blue Hens did not present any nerves or worry towards one of many sport’s bluebloods.

In fact, it might have helped that graduate ahead Dylan Painter started his profession at Villanova earlier than transferring to Delaware and is aware of the Wildcats in and out.

Painter’s lay-in gave Delaware an early 15-8 lead, easing nervousness that the stage can be too huge.

Finally, nevertheless, actuality set in.

Gillespie bought Villanova on monitor with a pair of 3-pointers, Samuels and Daniels added one every and the Wildcats closed the primary half with a 13-2 burst to take a 35-25 lead into the break.

Villanova’s momentum carried over to the second half. Moore poured in 12 factors within the first 5 minutes – together with three 3-pointers – because the Wildcats’ benefit shortly ballooned to twenty factors. Delaware wouldn’t get inside 16 the remainder of the best way.

FIRST FAN

President Joe Biden stuffed out his brackets, selecting Delaware over Gonzaga within the remaining to win the NCAA Event. No shock, he is a proud alum.

Biden additionally chosen Delaware to win the ladies’s event.

“I am happy with all of the athletes competing on this yr’s NCAA event,” he wrote on Twitter. “However on the finish of the day, I am a @UDelaware man. Go Blue Hens!”