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Recap: Villanova 78, District of Columbia 58
Villanova 78, District of Columbia 58: Maurice Sutton scored 12 points to lead the Wildcats in their season opener at the 2K Sports Classic at Villanova.
Six players scored nine points or more for Villanova (1-0). Ryan Arcidiacono, a freshman point guard making his collegiate debut, scored 11 points for the Wildcats and JayVaughn Pinkston had 10.
Quasim Jones scored 13 points to lead District of Columbia (0-1) while Mike Terry, Jr. and Ziad Ashmawy had 12 each.
Arcidiacono, who sat out his senior season of high school following back surgery, scored eight points in a 15-2 run to start the game.
District of Columbia trimmed the lead to five at the half and then cut the deficit to two just after intermission, but a 21-6 run by the Wildcats put them back ahead, 54-37, with 12:10 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Villanova guard Tony Chennault, a transfer from Wake Forest, scored four points on 2-for-8 shooting. … The Firebirds shot 15-for-18 from the free-throw line, led by a 6-for-6 effort from Ashmawy, the top returning scorer from last season. … Mouphtaou Yarou, a 6-10 senior center who averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Wildcats last season, scored nine points.
