Brandon Slater scored a career-high 23 points, Collin Gillespie added 21 and No. 5 Villanova pulled away from stubborn Howard 100-81 on Tuesday at home.
Justin Moore contributed 16 for the host Wildcats (2-1). Jermaine Samuels also had 11 for Villanova, which rebounded after an overtime loss at No. 2 UCLA last Friday.
Villanova shot 56.6 percent from the field and hit all 26 of its free throws. Slater was a team-best 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
Kyle Foster led the Bison (3-1) with 19 points off the bench, Elijah Hawkins added 16 points and 11 assists, and Tai Bibbs scored 16 points.
Steve Settle III also chipped in with 13 for Howard, which had won its previous three games. The Bison also shot an identical 56.6 percent and stayed close for a while.
Villanova led just 52-44 at halftime, thanks in large part to Howard’s blistering 73.9 percent shooting (17 of 23).
Slater hit a layup and followed with a three-point play for a 57-44 lead early in the second half.
Foster dropped in a tough jumper to close Howard within 68-60 with 12:03 remaining.
Villanova’s defense tightened from there.
Villanova responded offensively with a 7-0 spurt and Samuels made a deep trey with 10:22 left for a 75-60 lead.
Gillespie then dropped in consecutive 3-pointers and the Villanova lead ballooned to 21.
Hawkins made a pair of treys, but the Bison still trailed by 21, 87-66, with 6:05 left.
Gillespie and Slater hit two free throws each and the Wildcats led 91-68.
Bibbs hit a pair of free throws with 3:45 to go, but the Bison fell behind 91-73.
Samuels made two free throws and added a dunk in the final minute for the Wildcats, who then cruised to the win.
–Field Level Media
