Bryce Lindsay set a Villanova record with nine 3-pointers as the Wildcats drained a school-record 22 3-pointers in a 94-60 home victory over Sacred Heart on Tuesday.
In his third game for the Wildcats (2-1), Lindsay shot 9-of-14 from 3-point range to total 27 points. Devin Askew — also a Villanova newcomer — drained 7 of 10 long-range attempts en route to 27 points of his own.
Duke Brennan added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Villanova, which smashed the previous school record of 19 3-pointers.
Sacred Heart (1-2) made a respectable 40% of its 3-pointers but couldn’t keep pace with the high-octane Wildcats. Mekhi Conner scored 15 points to pace the Pioneers, while Yann Farell chipped in with 11 points.
About eight minutes into the game, Conner knocked down a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run by the visitors. But their early 17-13 lead didn’t last long, as the Wildcats erupted to score 36 of the next 40 points.
Askew’s 3-pointer began the lopsided run, and he added another 3-pointer and a jumper shortly thereafter.
With about seven minutes left in the half, Askew made another shot from outside the arc. Lindsay then made one of his own, followed by another 3-pointer from Askew to make it 40-19.
After a bucket by Sacred Heart, Lindsay drained three 3-pointers in less than two minutes to create a 28-point cushion. Askew knocked down Villanova’s 13th 3-pointer of the half with just over a minute left, helping the hosts coast into the break ahead 52-26.
The Wildcats made six more 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the second half, beginning with two more by Lindsay. Tyler Perkins, Askew, Matt Hodge and Christian Jeffrey each made one as Villanova surged ahead 74-40.
The Wildcats led by as many as 39 on Jeffrey’s 3-pointer with 10:38 to play. Villanova cruised to the finish line despite missing eight consecutive 3-pointers down the stretch.
