Red-hot Villanova pounds Lafayette, 93-52

Staff

10 years ago

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Dylan Ennis (31) dribbles the ball as Lafayette Leopards guard Joey Ptasinski (5) defends during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Dylan Ennis (31) shoots the ball over Lafayette Leopards forward Dan Trist (20) and Leopards guard Joey Ptasinski (5) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright gestures from the sidelines during the first half against the Lafayette Leopards in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) grabs a rebound in front of Lafayette Leopards guard Bryce Scott (14) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Ochefu recorded 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots as the Wildcats made short work of the Leopards, winning their second round NCAA Tournament by a score of 93-52 in Pittsburgh.

Dylan Ennis added a team-high 16 points and Ryan Arcidiacono scored all of his 13 points in the second half to go along with six assists for top-seeded Villanova (33-2), which shot 63.2 percent en route to its 16th consecutive win. JayVaughn Pinkston and Darrun Hilliard II each tallied 12 points for the Wildcats, who will face either North Carolina State or LSU in the third round on Saturday.

Dan Trist led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds while Seth Hinrichs had 13 points for No. 16 seed Lafayette (20-13), which made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years. Patriot League Conference tournament hero Nick Lindner was limited to three points and committed six of the Leopards’ 15 turnovers.

Pinkston knocked down his first three shots to help Villanova jump in front 21-10 and Kris Jenkins buried back-to-back 3-pointers as part of a 13-0 surge to push the margin to 21. Ochefu converted a three-point play during an 11-2 run to end the first half as the Wildcats shot 62.5 percent to take a commanding 49-26 lead at intermission.

Villanova’s hot shooting continued as Arcidiacono connected from beyond the arc and finished at the rim as the Wildcats doubled up Lafayette 60-30 early in the second half. Josh Hart threw down a two-handed jam to put Villanova on top 73-34 and Ennis drained a 3-pointer to stretch the advantage to 45 with nine minutes to go as the Wildcats coasted to the finish line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Villanova went 11-of-22 from 3-point range while Lafayette finished 4-of-18. … The Wildcats handed out 22 assists compared to eight turnovers. … Ochefu, Pinkston and Hilliard combined to go 15-of-18 from the floor.