Penn pulls off upset of No. 21 Villanova, 76-72

Clark Slajchert of Penn exhibited his versatility and skilled performance, aiding in the team’s critical 76-72 win over No. 21 Villanova. His presence, lasting from one end of the court to the other, became evident. Following the victory, he found himself at the center of the excitement as Penn students stormed Palestra court, emphasizing the significance of this milestone.

Slajchert shared his thoughts, expressing, “I’d been thinking about that moment for awhile… It’s kind of a dream to win it here in the Palestra, to give everyone in the gym this moment,” referring to the monumental victory against Villanova.

The Quakers (2-1, 1-1 Big 5) celebrated their first win over Villanova (2-1, 0-1 Big 5) since 2018, marking a pivotal moment in their basketball history.

Penn leaders

Freshman guard Tyler Perkins emerged as Penn’s top scorer, contributing 22 points and maintaining an impressive average of 17.2 points per game in his first four collegiate appearances. On the other hand, Slajchert, despite being limited to 11 points, played a crucial role in the game by securing five offensive rebounds and four assists. Penn coach Steve Donahue expressed his admiration for Slajchert’s performance by stating, “I thought Clark was the catalyst, especially in the second half…”

Furthermore, contributions from Ed Holland III (12), Cam Thrower (11), and Nick Spinoso (10) showcased the depth of Penn’s talent.

No Moore heroics

Villanova’s Justin Moore endured a challenging shooting night, culminating in a game-high of 25 points on 7-of-18 field goals. Despite Moore’s valiant efforts, Villanova’s inability to close the gap allowed Penn to secure the win.

The under-16 media timeout witnessed the Penn band’s inquiry about locating Radnor on a map, symbolizing Villanova’s struggle to find their footing against Penn’s formidable 2-3 zone defense. Villanova coach Kyle Neptune acknowledged the team’s difficulty against the zone, stating, “You don’t do well against the zone, they keep playing it.”

Big 5 permutations

The outcome of the game has created the possibility of a three-way tie in the Big 5 pod, emphasizing the significance of future matchups to determine each team’s seed for the Big 5 Championship.

Lastly, honoring longtime Inquirer college sports columnist Mike Jensen, who attended the game for the last time, further enhanced the celebratory atmosphere for Penn’s monumental victory.

Up next

Villanova will play against Maryland (1-2) in the Gavitt Games, while Penn is scheduled to face Maryland-Eastern Shore (1-1) in their upcoming matchups, both determined to carry forward their recent success.