PHILADELPHIA -- Phil Booth and Donte DiVincenzo each scored 18 points to help No. 4 Villanova avoid an upset and remain undefeated in a 77-68 win over La Salle on Sunday.
The Wildcats (10-0) were sloppy, struggled from 3-point range and could not shake the pesky Explorers until the final minutes of the game to win their 21st straight Big 5 game.
Booth put the Wildcats ahead with three free throws and followed with an assist on DiVincenzo's 3-pointer that made it 67-62 and finally gave them a bit of breathing room.
Mikal Bridges, coming off a career-high 28 points against Gonzaga, went inside for a pair of tough buckets and a 71-64 lead that brought the Villanova fans to their feet.