By CHARLIE PARENT
St. Joe’s (5-2) ran past No. 18 Villanova 78-65 (6-2) Wednesday night in the Big 5 semifinal, making a statement across college basketball and the A10.
The Hawks, who lost to Kentucky in overtime just over a week ago, will face Temple — a 106-99 triple-overtime winner over La Salle — in the Big 5 final on Saturday (7:30 p.m.).
Erik Reynolds II, a 6-foot-2 guard out of The Bullis School (MD.), dropped a game-high 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep.
Philadelphia native and freshman guard Xzayvier Brown added 16 off the bench as St. Joe’s took down the Wildcats for the first time since 2011.
Villanova picks up its second loss on the year, both to Philadelphia schools (Penn 11/13). Since the Penn defeat, Kyle Neptune and the Wildcats beat No. 14 North Carolina, Texas Tech, Maryland and Memphis. Villanova now heads on a challenging three-game stretch featuring road trips to No. 15 Creighton (5-1) and Kansas State (5-2), as well as a home matchup with UCLA (4-2). Follow Charlie on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookFor the first time since Jameer Nelson, Delonte West and Saint Joseph’s went into the Pavilion and won in 2004, the Hawks come out victorious at Villanova.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) November 30, 2023
Erik Reynolds II & Xzayvier Brown led the way. What a moment for @SJUHawks_MBB and Billy Lange!
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