COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Fisher helps Villanova hold off Dayton

  
  

  San Juan, PR (Sports Network) - Corey Fisher led all scorers with 18 points, as fifth-ranked Villanova held off 18th-ranked Dayton, 71-65, in the second round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

  Taylor King added 14 points off the bench, hitting on 4-of-8 three-point attempts, and also grabbed nine boards.

  Antonio Pena chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds for Villanova (4-0), which edged George Mason, 69-68, in first-round action on Thursday. Scottie Reynolds ended with eight points and five assists in the victory.

  Luke Fabrizius had 16 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role for Dayton (2-1), which edged 21st-ranked Georgia Tech, 63-59, on Thursday. Chris Wright netted 15 points and Chris Johnson ended with 13 points and five boards.

  Villanova led 37-29 after the opening 20 minutes, then saw its lead stretch to 54-36 after King drained a three-pointer with just over 14 minutes to play. The Wildcats maintained a double-digit advantage until Mickey Perry hit a jumper to spark a 12-2 Dayton run, making it a 58-54 game with a shade over six minutes remaining.

  London Warren's two free throws got the Flyers within 62-60 near the 2 1/2 minute mark.

  Fisher then made two from the line on Villanova's next possession, but Wright's dunk again drew Dayton within two.

  But the Flyers got no closer, as Pena, King and Fisher each sank a pair of from the stripe to make it a 70-62 contest with half a minute left on the clock.

  The Wildcats held an advantage for most of the opening 20 minutes, though Marcus Johnson made 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to bring Dayton within 27-25 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

  But Villanova responded with a three-point play by Fisher and closed the half on a 10-4 run.

  Game Notes The teams have split 10 all-time meetings...Marcus Johnson finished with five points, six rebounds and four steals...Wright and Warren combined for 12 of the Flyers' 17 turnovers.

  11/20 18:45:47 ET