PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Pace University men's basketball team opened up the 2015-16 campaign on Sunday with an exhibition against No. 11 Villanova University, last year's Division I Big East Conference Champions, at the Wells Fargo Center. The Setters fought hard to hold a lead through much of the first half, but the Wildcats showed why they will enter the regular season as a nationally-ranked Division I program by picking up an 80-45 win over Pace.
The Setters came out firing off the tip, as freshman
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More) drained a three just 16 seconds into the game to give Pace a 3-0 advantage. Sophomore
Victor Jusino (Morris Plains, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) stole the ball away from Daniel Ochefu, and drove down the court for a fast-break layup to put the Setters up by five.
Villanova scored six straight to take a 6-5 lead, but the Setters took it right back when sophomore
Mike Demello (Mohegan Lake, NY/White Plains) sank a three-pointer for an 8-6 edge. Junior transfer
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) then scored on back-to-back possessions, as the Setters doubled up the Wildcats, 12-6. The Setters kept the heat on their hosts and took an eight-point lead on a layup by sophomore
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School).
The Wildcats responded with six-straight points to get back within two, but freshman
Luke McLaughlin (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee) got two points back for Pace with a layup. The Setters led until the 8:42 mark of the first half, when Villanova tied the game at 16-16. The Wildcats closed out the half on a 22-4 run for a 38-20 halftime advantage.
The Setters opened the second frame much like the first, this time with Demello nailing a trey just 14 seconds into the period. They outscored the Wildcats, 10-6, in the first six minutes of the second stanza, but Villanova once again found its rhythm and held a 54-34 lead with 10 minutes to play. The Setters kept battling throughout the game, scoring the final basket on a layup by senior
Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge / Fairleigh Dickinson University), but they were unable to make a comeback against one of the nation's best teams.
"Today was a really good experience for us going up against a high level team like Villanova," said head coach
Matt Healing. "We got off to a good start and played really hard, which is all we were looking for as the game started. They're a good team and made some good adjustments and good shots."
Demello led the Setters with 11 points and six rebounds in Sunday's exhibition, making all three of his shots from long range in the process. He also matched senior
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) with a team-high three assists. Pearson and Mofunanya contributed six points apiece, and Jusino grabbed three boards and picked up two steals.
Ochefu turned in a double-double for Villanova with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jalen Brunson was the game's leading scorer with 13 points.
The Setters shot 32.1 percent from the field on Sunday, but made 40.7 percent of their shots in the second half. They also sank 50 percent of their chances from deep in the second stanza.
"What I told the guys was, 'We're still 0-0, and none of those stats count,'" said Healing. "We've got a lot of things to clean up. Playing in a game and an environment like this is a good day. Now we'll take a day off, and start getting to work for Queens."
After a tough final tune-up before the regular season, the Setters get things going on Friday, Nov. 13, when they take on Queens College in Flushing, N.Y. as part of the NE-10/ECC Challenge, hosted by Queens. Tip-off for the season opener is set for 7 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
