Tyler Perkins scored 19 points and Duke Brennan added 14 to headline Villanova’s 74-56 home win over Temple on Monday.
Perkins shot an efficient 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from 3-point range for the Wildcats (6-1). Brennan added eight rebounds for Villanova, which pulled down 21 offensive boards and held a dominant 43-24 advantage on the glass.
Acaden Lewis contributed 12 points and eight assists and Bryce Lindsay scored 13 for the Wildcats, who advanced to Saturday’s Big 5 Classic championship game against Penn. Villanova has never won the third-year event, which features five Philadelphia area schools.
Aiden Tobiason scored 15 points to pace Temple (4-4), which was outscored 30-9 from long distance. Derrian Ford (14 points) and Jordan Mason (12) were the other double-digit scorers for the Owls, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
With the game tied at 10-all, Villanova went on a 9-2 run to create some breathing room. However, Temple rallied to go ahead 24-23 on Ford’s fastbreak bucket with 2:30 left until halftime.
Lindsay and Perkins responded with 3-pointers, helping the Wildcats take a 29-28 lead into the locker room.
Villanova still led by a point early in the second half when Tobiason’s 3-pointer tilted the scoreboard in favor of the Owls.
Temple held a 39-35 lead with about 15 1/2 minutes remaining when Lewis’ three-point play ignited a 16-3 run.
Devin Askew and Perkins followed with 3-pointers and Brennan recorded back-to-back baskets thereafter. Malachi Palmer’s three-point play capped the surge, putting the Wildcats ahead 51-42.
Gavin Griffiths’ 3-pointer brought the Owls within 55-49 with 7:41 to play. Perkins promptly answered, knocking down two free throws and a transition 3-pointer to make it 60-49.
Perkins’ putback with 4:13 to go pushed the lead to 15 for the first time, and the Wildcats waltzed to their sixth straight win.
