Sharp-shooting Villanova trounces Temple

Eric Dixon scored 24 points to propel Villanova to a comfortable 94-65 win over Temple on Saturday in a Big 5 Classic game from Philadelphia.Dixon came in averaging 25.9 points for the Wildcats (6-4), who entered on the heels of their biggest win of the season – a 68-60 victory over No. 14 Cincinnati on Tuesday.Both Dixon and his teammates carried their momentum into Saturday, as Villanova shot a blistering 19-of-30 from 3-point range and 58.5 percent overall in setting a season high for points.Wooga Poplar chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats, Jordan Longino added 14 points and Tyler Perkins had 12.Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 20 points to pace the Owls (4-4), who shot poorly from the field (37 percent), the 3-point arc (30.4 percent) and the foul line (62.1 percent). Aiden Tobiason swiped five of Temple’s eight steals.Villanova jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead as Dixon scored five early points. Shortly thereafter, Dixon drilled two 3-pointers to give the Wildcats their first double-digit advantage at 15-4.Perkins and Poplar each knocked down a 3-pointer of their own as the lead grew to 21-8. With under six minutes left in the half, Perkins made back-to-back 3-pointers to increase the Wildcats’ advantage to 32-18.Villanova scored eight of the final 11 points of the half to go into the locker room ahead 45-29.