by JIM O’CONNELLAP Basketball Writer
Villanova, which entered the tournament third in the nation in scoring at 85.2 points per game, trailed Robert Morris 24-16 with 4 minutes left in the first half after managing just one field over an 8½-minute stretch while getting outrebounded 17-5.
Second-seeded Villanova’s early 17-11 deficit to 15th-seeded Robert Morris shouldn’t be a total surprise. last year, the Wildcats, playing as a no. 3 seed, started their run to the Final four by rallying from a 14-point deficit to beat American University 80-67.
Michael Loyd, Jr., who came in averaging 4.4 points per game, went 4 of 4 from the field and had all the points in BYU’s 10-0 run that gave the Cougars a 31-28 lead over Florida.
Freshman Karon Abraham hit his first three 3-point attempts as Robert Morris opened a 13-9 lead over Villanova.
Notre Dame had the first extended run of the tournament, scoring 10 straight points to take a 15-6 lead over old Dominion.
BYU came into the tournament leading the country in free throw shooting at 78.6 percent. Brandon Davies missed the first two the Cougars took against Florida.
Corey Fisher, the other Villanova starter benched for the beginning of the game against Robert Morris, came in at the first media timeout with the Wildcats’ leading 9-5.
Ben Hansbrough hit a 3-pointer to give Notre Dame a 10-6 lead over old Dominion, the first points scored in an NCAA tournament game by a member of his family since his brother Tyler Hansbrough led North Carolina to the national championship last season.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova’s leading scorer, was in the game with just over 16 minutes left in the first half after not starting as a “minor teaching point.”
Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, who missed five games with a bruised knee, entered the game at the first media timeout. It’s nice to bring a guy who averages 24.1 points per game off the bench.
BYU freshman guard Tyler Haws, team’s third-leading scorer, returns to starting lineup after missing last game with eye injury. he scored first basket of the tournament.
NCAA March Madness has begun with BYU and Florida starting things off in Oklahoma City.
Villanova guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher weren’t in the starting lineup against Robert Morris. Coach Jay Wright said it was a “minor teaching point” and they would both play.
Morgan State forward Anthony Anderson, who was diagnosed with leukemia after the Bears’ first practice this season, may be healthy enough to travel to Buffalo for the team’s first round game against West Virginia on Friday. Anderson, who has missed the entire season, is currently in a weakened state after having chemo treatment this week at John’s Hopkins.
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