Villanova rebounds from upset loss, pounds NJIT

Eric Dixon scored 22 points as host Villanova rolled over NJIT, 91-54, on Friday evening.Having been upset 90-80 on its home court by Columbia on Wednesday, Villanova (2-1) was much sharper in this one. The Wildcats shot well from the field (57.1 percent) and the 3-point line (11 of 23) while dominating the boards, 38-21.Dixon once again led the way. After missing the season opener due to a one-game NCAA suspension, the senior forward has excelled over the last two contests. He shot 11 of 16 for 33 points in the loss to Columbia and then authored a crisp 8-of-11 shooting effort in this one, not to mention a team-high 10 rebounds, six on the offensive glass.Enoch Boakye, Tyler Perkins and Wooga Poplar added 12 points apiece for the Wildcats, while Kris Parker had 11. Perkins finished with four 3-pointers.Villanova committed only five turnovers, compared to 16 assists. In fact, the Highlanders did not record a single point off a Villanova turnover. Tim Moore and Tariq Francis each scored 12 points to pace NJIT (0-2). Francis added six assists.Villanova led only 15-13 after 8 1/2 minutes before Parker’s layup ignited a 14-3 run. Parker scored the first six points, and then Perkins capped the burst with a 3-pointer to make it 29-16.Perkins knocked down another 3-pointer shortly thereafter, and then with 1:32 left, Poplar’s trey made it 39-21.

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