Overview
- Villanova overpowered Penn with an 18-point edge in the paint and 48.4% three-point shooting, pulling away after halftime.
- Bryce Lindsay hit five second-half threes and Duke Brennan set the tone inside with efficient first-half scoring around the rim.
- The victory marked Villanova’s 30th Big 5 championship and its first since the event adopted the revised format.
- Elsewhere in the tripleheader, St. Joseph’s edged Temple 70-69 on Deuce Jones II’s buzzer-beater for third, and La Salle beat Drexel 69-64 for fifth.
- Event organizers said the Big 5 Classic will move to a new site next season, while the women’s bracket continues Sunday at Finneran Pavilion with Villanova facing Saint Joseph’s.