Nov. 17, 2008
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Dante Cunningham scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher each scored 17 points to lead No. 23 Villanova past Fordham 107-68 on Monday night.
Cunningham scored 19 points in the first half, nearly matching his previous best of 21, to help the Wildcats (2-0) pull away early. The 6-foot-8 senior converted a three-point play in the opening minute of the second half to give him 22 points, and did it again about a minute later to stretch the lead to 62-40 and all but wrap up Villanova's 17th straight win at home.
Cunningham finished 11-of-17 from the field and 9-for-12 from the line.
The Wildcats got a nice surprise when forward Shane Clark returned only 11 days after surgery on his right knee. Clark, who averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 points in 32 games last season, was expected to miss 3-to-6 weeks. Instead, he checked in 6 1/2 minutes into the game and scored the first time he touched the ball for a 17-11 lead.
The Wildcats worked the ball inside again two possessions later and Clark, playing with a brace on his right knee, made it 2-for-2 with another easy basket.
Villanova played without 6-10 center Casiem Drummond (foot) and swingman Dwayne Anderson missed his second straight game (foot).
The Wildcats played their second of eight straight games in the Philadelphia area and none expect to seriously test the Wildcats. Niagara and Monmouth are on the schedule this week, and the Wildcats' first stiff test comes against No. 7 Texas at the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden.
The Rams went 5-for-19 in the first half and a woeful 8-of-26 overall. Brenton Butler led Fordham with 17 points.
Trey Blue banked a wild 3 from in front of the scorer's table late in the first half, causing Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds to smile in disbelief.
With the student section chanting, "You can't stop him!" Cunningham went inside for another easy basket in the second half to make it 86-55 and give him 29 points. He made a layup with 7:31 left to put him over the 30-point mark. He could have scored 40 if coach Jay Wright left him in, but he was pulled at the next timeout.
The Wildcats broke the 100-point mark for the first time since scoring 103 vs. Hartford on Dec. 14, 2007.
