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Villanova continues 'Big 5' slate against La Salle

Dec 14, 2008 - 8:22 AM No. 12 Villanova (9-1) at La Salle (4-3) 7:00 p.m. EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Villanova hopes Sunday's "Big 5" matchup is a bit easier than its last one.

The 12th-ranked Wildcats look to move one step closer to a season sweep of their city rivals when they take on La Salle.

Halfway home to a perfect 4-0 mark against its fellow Philadelphia schools, Villanova squeaked out a win against a St. Joseph's squad that ended the Wildcats' 14-game "Big 5" winning streak last season.

Scottie Reynolds and Dante Cunningham each sank a pair of free throws in the final five seconds as the Wildcats escaped with a 59-56 win. Villanova converted 14-of-16 from the line after intermission following a first half in which it did not attempt a free throw.

Cunningham is averaging 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds a game and Reynolds is scoring 14.0 per contest with 4.9 assists for the Wildcats, who bounced back from their first loss, a 67-58 setback to Texas.

The Explorers have won three straight games after a 1-3 start. All seven of their games have been decided by eight points or less.

Rodney Green and Kimmani Barrett scored 14 points apiece in a 70-64 victory over Hartford on December 6. The pair leads La Salle in scoring while Yves Mekongo Mbala is averaging 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds a game.