UNCASVILLE (Conn.) — Jermaine Sampson scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for No. 5 Villanova won 71-53 over No. 17 Tennessee in Saturday’s opening round of the Hall of Fame Tip Off tournament
Brandon Slater and Collin Gillespie also scored 14 points, while Justin Moore added 13 to the Wildcats’ (3-1) lead by 20 points at halftime.
Santiago Vescovi scored 23 for Tennessee (2-1), after the team had started the season with two lopsided wins over East Tennessee and Tennessee-Martin. He was the only Volunteer to reach double figures.Bahis
Villanova scored nine of the game’s initial points and held Tennessee without a basket for more than six minutes. Before Vescovi hit a 3-pointer from right wing, the Volunteers missed six of their first six shots.
The Villanova lead was 33-11 when Samuels scored a dunk on Justin Moore’s lob pass. Moore’s breakaway dunk just before the end of the first half saw the Wildcats lead by 35-15 at intermission.
Vescovi attempted to bring the Vols back in the game by himself in the second half. He scored all eight points during a Tennessee run which reduced the deficit from 22 to 17. He was fouled just seconds later, and the Wildcats never threatened to challenge his lead.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: Kennedy Chandler, a highly-regarded freshman guard, scored all six points in the second period. In the Vols victories over East Tennessee and Tennessee-Martin, Chandler averaged 18 points and five assists. On Saturday, he was only 1 of 9 on the floor. This was the Vols’ first away match of the season, and their first regular-season neutral-site game since 2019.
Villanova: Villanova’s Wildcats are currently 29-4 in November tournaments during the past decade. On Sunday, they will be aiming for their eighth title in that time span. The Wildcats will have played three of the Top 25 games in this season’s season by the end. They lost in overtime to No. Los Angeles 2 UCLA, 86-77
UP NEXT
Villanova will play the winner of Saturday’s second game between No. 6 Purdue and Number. 18 North Carolina. Tennessee will be playing in the consolation match later Sunday afternoon.
