Wildcats, Mountaineers advance to quarterfinals in Big East Tournament

#8 Villanova 82 - #9 Syracuse 63

The first 18 minutes of the first half belonged to Syracuse. Fresh of their season saving thumping of Marquette, Syracuse came out strong, playing Orange basketball. The 2-3 zone made life, and shots, difficult for Villanova. In typical fashion, Paul Harris and Donte Greene led the charge on offense for Syracuse, with Villanova head coach Jay Wright searching for anyone in blue and white to put a body on Greene and Harris. The Orange had Villanova playing catchup early, racing out in front 19-7 early on. Syracuse got their largest lead of the first half at 28-19, but as the first half dwindled, so did the Orange’s nine point lead. Villanova went on an 8-0 to end the first half, capped off by Dwayne Anderson’s 3-pointer to end action in the first half with Villanova only down one, 29-28. Villanova had new life, they had momentum, and then they had the game.

Scottie Reynolds and Corey Stokes took over for Villanova, carrying the Wildcats past the Orange 82-63. Reynolds had a game-high 22 points and Stokes dropped a career-high 18 points, as Villanova blitzed Syracuse for 55 second-half points. The difference in the second half was clearly the 3-point shot. Villanova was unconscious from downtown, hitting 8-of-10 3-point attempts in the second half, shooting Syracuse right out of their trademark 2-3 zone. Collectively, Villanova put on a show from beyond the arc, hitting 11-of-21 three’s; Reynolds and Stokes combined for eight of Villanova’s 11 3-pointers. Syracuse had a glaring inability to locate either Reynolds or Stokes, and the Orange let the dynamic duo get white hot, without finding any answers as to how to stop either player.

Syracuse ’s trio of Donte Greene, Paul Harris, and Jonny Flynn were stellar as usual, scoring all but 17 points for Syracuse, who almost certainly will be denied a tournament berth with the loss to Villanova. Syracuse would have needed to win at least two, if not three games in the Big East tournament to be given serious consideration for a tournament bid. Syracuse allowed too many open looks from the 3-point line, and Villanova was able to get some easier looks at the rim in the second half, something Syracuse didn’t allow them to do in the first. Villanova’s bench, spear-headed by Stokes’ 18 points, dominated the Orange’s bench, outscoring Syracuse 29-8. Villanova’s reward for their opening round victory will be a date with the No.1 seeded and 9 th ranked Georgetown Hoyas on Thursday at noon.

#5 West Virginia 58 - #12 Providence 53

Joe Alexander’s 22 points and De’Sean Butler adding 17 helped West Virginia defeat Providence for the third time this season, 58-53 in the opening round of the Big East tournament. Down 48-47, Alexander and Butler helped West Virginia close the game on an 11-5 run, while holding Providence to only two field goals in the last seven minutes. Despite the good games by Alexander and Butler, the rest of the starters for West Virginia had only 10 combined points, as the Mountaineers were held nearly 20 points under their scoring average. West Virginia connected on just 3-of-15 3-point attempts, while turning the ball over 17 times. It was the second straight scare game for West Virginia, who needed a last second layup by Joe Mazzulla to force overtime against St. John’s, a game in which West Virginia pulled out in overtime.

> Buy WVU merchandise, Villanova clothing & apparel and more online along with Big East clothing & gear from Big East Fans partner sites.

Providence showed great tenacity and toughness, refusing to allow West Virginia to pull away. Providence had a nine-point at one point during the ball game and stayed stride for stride with West Virginia throughout almost the entire game. But the Friars simply ran out of gas in crunch time. Their execution was poor, committing six turnovers and converting only two of the final five shots from the field. The Mountaineers’ late 8-0 run was the final nail in the Friars’ coffin. Weyinmi Efejuku led Providence with 12 points, but Efejuku couldn’t prevent Providence from losing for the sixth time in the last seven trips to the Big East tournament.

West Virginia advances to the quarterfinal round tomorrow to face off against the #4 seeded and No.14 UConn Huskies at 2 p.m.

by Frank Minniti
BigEast-fans.com Director of Content

> More Big East basketball news & headlines

> Follow the Big East Basketball Tournament with online updates from Big East Fans!