Five score in double figures as Villanova knocks off Penn

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NO. 4 VILLANOVA 90, PENN 62

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Jalen Brunson had 17 points to lead five players in double figures as No. 4 Villanova routed Penn 90-62 on Wednesday night.

Omari Spellman, Mikal Bridges and Phil Bridges added 14 points apiece and Donte DiVincenzo scored 12 for the Wildcats (7-0), who remained undefeated while winning their 15th consecutive game against Penn.

AJ Brodeur paced Penn with 15 points and Darnell Foreman had 13 for the Quakers (5-4).

The game was played at Jake Nevin Field House, a bandbox gym on Villanova's campus that seats 2,220. It was the first game at the Wildcats' former home since Jan. 4, 1986. Villanova is playing most of its home games this season at Wells Fargo Center, home court of the 76ers, while its regular on-campus arena gets a makeover.

The victory was Villanova's 19th in a row against Philadelphia Big 5 rivals. The famed Philadelphia City Series started in 1956, but Wednesday's game was the first to be played at Nevin Field House. It became the 10th venue for a Big 5 contest, most of which have been held at The Palestra.

Villanova shot an efficient 57 percent in the opening half to take a 46-28 lead. Nine Wildcats scored in the opening 20 minutes, led by Spellman's 10 points.

The Wildcats were in total control after halftime and the advantage reached as much as 74-47 on Bridges' fastbreak dunk with 8:38 remaining.

Villanova finished shooting 57 percent from the field, including 50 percent from beyond the arc.

The Wildcats have won 27 consecutive games in November.

NO. 13 NORTH CAROLINA 86, MICHIGAN 71

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Luke Maye scored 27 points and No. 13 North Carolina shot 55 percent to beat Michigan in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Joel Berry II added 17 points on a bounceback offensive night for the Tar Heels (6-1). They were coming off a 63-45 loss to No. 3 Michigan State in the PK80 Invitational that included them shooting a program-record-low 24.6 percent.

But North Carolina had no troubles against the Wolverines (6-2). The Tar Heels closed the first half on a 17-5 run for a 51-37 lead, then went a 17-2 run to blow the game open.

That 34-7 run over roughly 13 minutes turned a 34-32 lead into a 68-39 romp with more than 13 minutes left.

Moe Wagner scored 20 points to lead Michigan, which cooled quickly after a hot start and couldn't keep up with UNC and its refound offensive touch.

NO. 24 ALABAMA 77, LOUISIANA TECH 74

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Collin Sexton made 4 free throws over the final 8 seconds to lift No. 24 Alabama to a come-from-behind victory over Louisiana Tech.

The Crimson Tide (6-1) overcame an 11-point deficit over the last 14 minutes and held off the previously unbeaten Bulldogs (5-1).

Louisiana Tech's Jacobi Harris missed a three-pointer from the right wing and Jalen Harris grabbed the rebound and hit a layup with 2 seconds left to make it a 1-point game. Riley Norris heaved the inbounds pass across midcourt to Sexton, who made two free throws with just over 1 second left.

Louisiana Tech's Derric Jean, who had hit the game-winning three-pointer against Evansville, fired a Hail Mary pass. Harris just got off a potential tying three-pointer that bounced off the rim.

Dazon Ingram and Sexton, the SEC's leading scorer, led Alabama with 22 points each. Ingram also made two foul shots with 27 seconds remaining.

Sports on 11/30/2017

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