Villanova Closes Out 2006 By Thrashing Temple, 83-65, at Pavilion

by Craig Dimitri
E-mail: novaviewpoint@yahoo.com

Villanova closed out 2006 with an easy City Series victory over Temple, the first time the Wildcats have met the Owls with former Penn coach Fran Dunphy at the helm. The Wildcats had no trouble defeating the Owls, 83-65, on Saturday night at the Pavilion, where Temple has not won since 1990.

Villanova improved to 3-0 City Series, and has a great chance to - ironically - sweep the City Series while simultaneously losing to Drexel, a feat which I doubt has ever been accomplished. Overall, the Wildcats raised their record to 10-2, while Temple fell to 6-5 overall. It won't get any easier for the Owls, who have to face #5 Duke - at Cameron Indoor Stadium - later this week.

Curtis Sumpter led the way for Villanova, coming up with another huge game: 22 points and posting a career-high with 14 boards. Mike Nardi contributed 17 points as well. For Temple, Christmas came five days late to the Pavilion, as Owl Dionte Christmas led the Owls with 22 points, with Mark Tyndale adding 16.

This was Villanova's 10th consecutive victory in City Series play, as they swept the Big Five last season. They also now hold a one-game edge over Temple in the all-time rivalry between the two Philadelphia schools, 40-39. Only St. Joseph's, whom Villanova will not face until February, stands in the way of Villanova sweeping the Big Five once more, to repeat as City Series champions (albeit with the annoyance of losing to Drexel for the first time ever).

Questions? Comments? Information? You can contact Craig Dimitri at novaviewpoint@yahoo.com.