CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Eric Paschall had 17 points, including a 3-pointer with 2:50 to go, to help rally No. 3 Villanova past Western Michigan 76-65 at the Charleston Classic on Thursday.
The defending champion Wildcats opened 3-0 for the fourth straight season. Not that it was easy after Western Michigan cut a 14-point second-half lead to 569-56 with six minutes left. That’s when Villanova took off on a 13-4 run to secure the game, helped by 3-pointers by Kris Jenkins, Paschall and Josh Hart for a 72-60 lead. Western Michigan never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
The Wildcats will face Wake Forest or UTEP on Friday for a spot in Sunday’s championship.
The Broncos (1-2) fell to 0-4 at the eight-team Charleston tournament. They lost all three games when they last visited in the 2008-09 season. Thomas Wilder led Western Michigan with 19 points.
Hart and Jalen Brunson added 14 points each for Villanova while Jenkins scored 11.
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