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'Nova Ends UCLA's Final Four Run

By the Associated Press

Posted Mar 21, 2009 6:44 PM CDT
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(AP) – The Wildcats had it all the way. Dante Cunningham scored 18 points Saturday, helping Villanova reach the round of 16 for the fourth time in 5 years with an 89-69 victory over UCLA that ended the Bruins' bid for a fourth straight Final Four appearance. Corey Fisher and Reggie Redding each had 13 points for the third-seeded Wildcats (28-7), who will play the Texas-Duke winner in the East Region semifinals in Boston.

Backed by a raucous, hometown crowd at their off-campus home, Villanova jumped on UCLA early and hardly let up. The combination of tight defense, physical play, and excellent shooting was too much for UCLA. Villanova led 44-31 at halftime, and the game that was expected to be close and low-scoring turned into a rout in the second half, with the Wildcats leading at one point by 25.

Villanova's Antonio Pena (0) collides with UCLA's Alfred Aboya (12) in the first half of a second-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
Villanova's Antonio Pena (0) collides with UCLA's Alfred Aboya (12) in the first half of a second-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (Michael Perez)
UCLA guard Jrue Holiday, left, and Villanova's Dwayne Anderson chase a loose ball in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
UCLA guard Jrue Holiday, left, and Villanova's Dwayne Anderson chase a loose ball in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic sits on the bench during the second half in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009. Villanova won 89-69.
UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic sits on the bench during the second half in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009. Villanova won 89-69.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
UCLA players, from left, Alfred Aboya, James Keefe, Josh Shipp, and Darren Collison sit on the bench in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
UCLA players, from left, Alfred Aboya, James Keefe, Josh Shipp, and Darren Collison sit on the bench in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
UCLA's Alfred Aboya (12) loses the ball as he collides with Villanova's Antonio Pena (0) in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
UCLA's Alfred Aboya (12) loses the ball as he collides with Villanova's Antonio Pena (0) in Philadelphia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
The ball bounces away as UCLA's Darren Collison (2) and Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (1) collide in the first half of a second-round men's NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
The ball bounces away as UCLA's Darren Collison (2) and Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (1) collide in the first half of a second-round men's NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (Michael Perez)
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NCAA basketball • UCLA Bruins • Villanova Wildcats • college basketball

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