Bucknell University
0-1
Villanova
1-0
No. 6 Villanova Withstands Bucknell's Second-Half Rally, Prevails 68-52 in Hoops Opener
11/12/2010 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2010
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Bucknell walked off the floor from its season opener at No. 6 Villanova feeling better after a strong second half, but former Bison Jay Wright's Wildcats had too much Corey Fisher, who scored 17 of his game-high 24 points after the break to lead the hosts to a 68-52 victory before a sellout crowd at The Pavilion Friday night.
Darryl Shazier scored 12 points, Mike Muscala had 10 points and eight rebounds and Cameron Ayers added 10 points in his collegiate debut for the Bison, who cut a 17-point deficit down to seven with 10 minutes to play before Stokes and backcourt-mate Maalik Wayns (15 points) took over for Villanova.
Bucknell led 8-5 early after back-to-back 3-pointers by Shazier and Bryson Johnson, but the Bison went into a deep cold spell after that, missing a number of open looks. They were held to just three more field goals over the final 16 minutes of the half, two of them by Shazier. Bucknell hung in there defensively in the first half, even with reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Bryan Cohen saddled with two early fouls, but the Bison trailed 28-16 at the break.
Villanova went up by as many as 17 at 38-21 on Stokes' transition 3-pointer 3:24 into the second half. But the Bison started to heat up offensively and got right back in the game. Shazier answered the Stokes shot with a trey of his own, kicking off a 17-7 Bucknell run.
Bryan Cohen and Cameron Ayers scored five points each in the spurt, with Ayers' first collegiate field goal coming on a 3-pointer with 12:58 remaining. Cohen's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 45-34, then Muscala scored inside to get Bucknell back within single digits at 45-36. Ayers' elbow jumper made it 45-38 with 10:36 left, and the Bison had a chance to draw even closer after a defensive stop, but Johnson came up short on a transition three attempt from the left wing.
Wayns hit 1 of 2 from the line to make it 46-38, and after Bucknell had turnovers on consecutive possessions, Fisher took the game over. The senior guard hit a long 3-pointer and an off-balance two just inside the arc, rebuilding Villanova's lead to 13 at 51-38.
Bucknell pulled within single digits twice more on 3-pointers by Ayers and G.W. Boon. Boon's right-wing three, which came off an assist from Ayers, made it a 54-46 game with 6:12 to play. But then Fisher answered with a backdoor reverse layup, and then the Bison left Wayns open at the top of the key for a dagger 3-pointer that put Villanova up 59-46 with 5:20 left.
The Bison had a couple of good looks rim out, and Fisher put the final nail in the coffin with his fourth trifecta of the night with 2:01 left.
After going just 6-for-25 from the floor with nine turnovers in a tentative first half, Bucknell shot 13-for-31 (and 6-for-11 from the arc) and committed only three turnovers in the second stanza. The Bison shot 33.9 percent on the night.
Shazier went 4-for-8 from the floor and also had five rebounds and four assists. Cohen had a career-high six assists along with his five points. Muscala's eight rebounds tied with Villanova's Antonio Pena for game-high honors.
Ayers, a Philadelphia native, came on at the game's first media timeout and played well in 29 minutes. He recovered after missing his first six shots to produce 10 points, two rebounds and two assists. Another freshman, Ryan Hill, also came on in the first half and finished with two assists in five total minutes.
Bucknell had 15 assists and 12 turnovers in the game.
Corey Stokes was Villanova's third double-figure scorer with 11 points. The Wildcats shot 42.1 percent for the game and made 10 of 27 3-point attempts.
Wright, a 1983 Bucknell graduate and a former team captain, improved to 6-0 in his career against his alma mater. Five of those wins have come at Villanova and one at Hofstra.
The Bison will have a short turnaround before taking on another tough team from the Big East. On Saturday, Bucknell flies to Milwaukee in preparation for a game against Marquette on Sunday at 2 p.m. (Eastern). That game will be televised live on TimeWarner 32 in Wisconsin, and will be shown on tape delay on SportsNet New York (SNY) on Monday, Nov. 15, at 7 a.m.
