COL BKB: Villanova 78, Rhode Island 65

• Tweet

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- No. 22 Villanova road Dante Cunningham's 19 points and 12 rebounds Saturday to a 78-65 win over Rhode Island for the Philly Classic title.

The 6-0 Wildcats displayed a balanced attack with four other players in double figures: Corey Fisher 14, Scottie Reynolds 13, Reggie Redding 11 (12 rebounds) and Antonio Pena 10.

Rhode Island (5-2) got 23 points from Jimmy Baron and 12 from Keith Cothran.

After giving up the game's first basket, Villanova never trailed, taking a 17-8 at 15:44 on a Corey Stokes free throw and holding a 40-33 edge at halftime.

The Wildcats made it 47-37 early in the second half and kept a double-digit lead most of the way. The Rams got within 53-54 with 6:47 to play on two free throws by Baron but Redding hit a three-pointer and Shane Clark drove the baseline for a bucket to push them back.