Villanova Survives Huge Scare In OT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Villanova Wildcats avoided becoming the fifth number two seed to lose in the NCAA tournament, after a 73-70 overtime win against Robert Morris.

Before the start of Thursday’s game, Villanova head coach Jay Wright benched his top two players, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, for unspecified reasons.

The strategy almost backfired on Wright, who put the players into the game after about five minutes.

Reynolds and Fisher combined for just 26 points on a combined 4 for 19 from the field.

But Reynolds hit 15 free throws and two of those put the Wildcats into overtime. And other Reynolds shot late in overtime stalled a Robert Morris rally.

Villanova then dominated the overtime session to advance to the next round.

Villanova had lost five of its last seven games but was an 18 point favorite against Robert Morris.

A team spokesman says Wright benched the pair as a "minor teaching point."

Reynolds first appeared about 4 minutes into the first half against, and Fisher soon followed.

But Robert Morris had grabbed the momentum.

Reynolds had led the second-seeded Wildcats in scoring with 18.5 points a game and Fisher is second at 13.7. Reynolds and Fisher had started every game this season.

Only four teams had lost as a number two seed in the history of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
• In 1991, Richmond beat second-seeded Syracuse 73-69.
• In 1993, Santa Clara with Steve Nash beat second-seeded Arizona 64-61.
• In 1997, Coppin State beat second-seeded USC 78-65.
• And in 2001, Hampton beat second-seeded Iowa State 58-57

The tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.