No. 5 Villanova Takes Crown Over UNI, 64-50

Friday, November 24

Nassau, Bahamas

11 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

5-2

Villanova

6-0

UNI

Villanova

No. 5 Villanova Takes Crown Over UNI, 64-50

11/24/2017 1:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score UNI-villanova-boxscore-2017-1

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas - Mikal Bridges scored 18 points and No. 5 Villanova pulled away down the stretch to beat Northern Iowa 64-50 in Friday's Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.

Jalen Brunson added 16 points as Villanova (6-0) led most of the way, then used an 8-0 run in the final 4 minutes to turn away the Panthers

It marked Villanova's 17th straight win in a November tournament and marked the Wildcats' fifth straight year with a championship, including the 2013 Atlantis title

Juwan McCloud scored 13 points to lead the Panthers (5-2), who shot 42 percent and controlled the boards. But Northern Iowa made just 6 of 23 3-pointers and didn't get to the free-throw line.

The Panthers got within 51-45 on Spencer Haldeman's 3 with 5:33 left, but Phil Booth answered with a 3. Then, after Eric Paschall's score, Bridges hit a 3 to push the lead to 14 with 2:03 left.

20779

Villanova stayed perfect on the season at 6-0, while UNI dropped its second game of the season to a top-10 ranked opponent. UNI is 5-2 on the season. UNI won the rebounding battle, 37-29.

UNI senior Bennett Koch recorded his fourth career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. UNI freshman Tywhon Pickford grabbed 10 rebounds in the contest.

UNI will return home to play UNLV on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

NOTES: Tywhon Pickford and Juwan McCloud were named to the All-Tournament team ... UNI did not attempt a free throw in the game ... UNI is the first NCAA Division I team this season to not attempt a free throw in a game.

FEWEST FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED IN A GAME (UNI HISTORY SINCE 2000)
1-2 at Evansville - 1/29/13 - L, 54-51 (OT)
1-4 vs. Creighton - 3/4/11 - L, 60-57
2-2 at Missouri State - 2/15/15 - W, 68-57
2-2 at Illinois State - 12/29/11 - L, 65-61
2-2 at Drake - 1/12/03 - L, 75-73