CONWAY, S.C. – Middle Tennessee faced a tall task Thursday as they opened the Myrtle Beach Invitational with a short bench and young squad going up against the No. 17 Villanova Wildcats, who have won two of the last four NCAA National Championships, falling by a final score of 98-69.
The Wildcats came out looking like a well-oiled machine inside the HTC Center, jumping out to an early 8-0 lead behind eight points from veteran guard Collin Gillespie and quickly going up double digits on the Blue Raiders as they started 1 for 4 with two turnovers and two fouls just three minutes in.