Men's Basketball
Rhode Island Takes on #22/20 Villanova in Philly Classic Title Game
Nov. 29, 2008
PHILADELPHIA -- On Saturday night, Rhode Island takes on #22/20 Villanova in the championship game of the 2008 Hoop Group Philly Classic. Tipoff time at the Palestra is set for 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised locally on Cox Sports Television (ch. 3).
Rhody (5-1) advanced to the title game after downing Penn State, 77-72, on Friday night. Jimmy Baron scored 20 points, while Keith Cothran added 18 and Kahiem Seawright 16. After a Cothran layup with 16 seconds left in the first half, URI never trailed and held off a late Nittany Lions push down the stretch.
Baron and Seawright were a combined 8-for-8 in the final five minutes of play, helping to seal the victory - Rhody's fourth in a row.
Villanova advanced to tonight's contest after a 64-47 victory over Towson. Head coach jay Wright's squad has a perfect 5-0 record on the year and is ranked 22nd in the Associated Press and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls. It is the second nationally ranked opponent for URI this season.
The Wildcats are led in scoring and rebounding by Dante Cunningham, who checks in at 17.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. All-American guard Scottie Reynolds is scoring at a 13.2 ppg clip, while Corey Stokes (12.8 ppg) and Corey Fisher (11.4) are also tallying double-digits in scoring. Antonio Pena is another VU player solid on the glass, pulling down 6.2 boards per game so far this year.
It is the first meeting between the two schools since the 1949-50 season, Villanova holds a 4-2 lead in the all-time series, which began in 1924.
Jon Gurevitch and Rob Kennedy will call the action on the television broadcast, while Steve McDonald and Don Kaull will have the game on the Rams Radio Network (WHJJ 920 AM; WJZS 99.3 FM) beginning with the pre-game show at 8 p.m.
