College basketball: Several Big 5 teams take to the floor in Saturday hoops action
Villanova fell on the road to Creighton, while St. Joseph's romped Virginia Tech. On the women's side, St. Joe's also prevailed on Saturday.
Eric Dixon continued to show why he’s one of the best shooters in the country, but it was for naught as the Wildcats suffered an 86-79 road loss to Creighton inside the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on Saturday. Dixon scored a game-high 27 points on 10 of 17 shooting, and 4 of 7 from three-point range. He was joined by Wooga Poplar, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Jhamir Brickus added 16 points.
But Creighton (8-5, 1-1 Big East) was paced by big performances from Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal, who scored 20 points apiece, but was paced by a resident thorn in the side of Villanova (8-6, 1-1) in Ryan Kalkbrenner who dropped a team-high 23.
The loss snapped a five-game Wildcats win streak, highlighted by wins over then-No. 19-ranked Cincinnati and a Big East opening defeat of Seton Hall.
Villanova gets a week away from the floor for the holidays before returning to action against Butler on New Year’s Day (6:30 p.m., FS1).
St. Joseph’s vaults past Virginia Tech
Erik Reynolds II knocked down five three-pointers and scored 25 points to help St. Joseph’s pull away from Virginia Tech for an 82-62 win on Saturday at the Holiday Hoop Fest at the Palestra.
The victory gave the Hawks (8-4) their first back-to-back wins since they won three straight in November. Reynolds was 10 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 11 from deep, with three assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. Hawks teammate Derek Simpson was 4 of 8 from three-point range and scored 18, and Rasheer Fleming was 8-for-8 from the line to add 18 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Anthony Finkley chipped in 13 points by hitting 3 of 4 from deep.
Ben Hammond and Brian Burnham led Virginia Tech (5-7) with 11 points apiece.
St. Joe’s was 15 of 32 from long range. The Hawks will host Delaware State on Dec. 28 (1 p.m.) before opening Atlantic 10 Conference play against UMass on New Year’s Eve. Virginia Tech returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play on New Year’s Eve at No. 5 Duke.
La Salle revels in rout of Immaculata
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi shot 8-for-8 from the field, including 5-for-5 from three-point range, for a game-high 21 points as La Salle (8-5) defeated Immaculata (4-8), 108-48, at John Glaser Arena. Also scoring in double figures for the Explorers (8-5) were Eric Acker (14), Jason Umosella (12), Corey McKeithan (12), and Mac Etienne (10).
Jalen Flowers led Immaculata (4-8) with 11 points.
La Salle, which shot 60.6% from the field, will open its Atlantic 10 schedule at Dayton on New Year’s Eve (2 p.m., ESPN+)
St. Joe’s women drop Charleston
Laura Ziegler had a double-double to fuel St. Joseph’s in a win against College of Charleston, 59-54, in its second game of the Hawk Classic at Hagan Arena. Ziegler, one day removed from her second triple-double of the season, finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Talya Brugler (15 points) and Gabby Casey (10 points) joined her in double figures.
Taylor Barbot led the Cougars (9-1) with 23 points.
St. Joe’s (8-2) will open Atlantic 10 play against VCU at home on Dec. 29 (2 p.m., ESPN+).