BOX SCORE HARTFORD, Conn. — Villanova got off to a slow start in defense of its NCAA championship against a determined, defensive-minded Saint Mary’s team that came in confident after a season-defining win. But the Wildcats, a No. 6 seed in this NCAA Tournament after an up-and-down season, have one thing no team in the field of 64 has: a pair of leaders who have won two national titles. NPhil Booth scored 20 points, fellow senior Eric Paschell added 14 and Villanova held off 11th-seeded Saint Mary’s 61-57 on Thursday night. “We’re growing, our young guys are growing, but we have two seniors who do everything for us, on and off the court,” coach Jay Wright said. “We’re just so lucky to have them.” Sophomore Jermaine Sameuls added 12 points for the Wildcats (26-9), who led for almost 33 minutes, but never by more than eight points. “The tempo was…
Continue Reading: No. 10 Villanova falls flat in blowout loss to No. 18 Ohio State
