Villanona beats Oklahoma State to reach championship game

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Wright: Taking 40 3-pointers in game is good

Villanova coach Jay Wright has no issue with his team taking 40 3-point attempts in the win vs. Oklahoma State.

Nov 23, 2018, 09:59 pm

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Defending national champion Villanova got its swagger back.

Eric Paschall had 22 points and Phil Booth added 20 as Villanova advanced to the AdvoCare Invitational championship game by beating Oklahoma State 77-58 on Friday.

The Wildcats, who made a tournament-record 16 3-pointers, will play either No. 14 Florida State or No. 19 LSU on Sunday.

"Just a good next step for us," Villanova coach Jay Wright said.

Villanova (4-2) stopped a two-game skid by beating Canisius 82-56 in Thursday's first round.

"They play with a champion mindset," Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. "You can sense there's urgency to the way they prepare, the way they warm up, the way they huddle during game, the way they communicate defensively."

Oklahoma State (3-2) got 15 points from Mike Cunningham. The graduate transfer played in his second game after missing the Cowboys' first three with a left hamstring injury.

"We were just off today," Boynton said. "We let them control the tempo."

Paschall had 20 points, including six 3-pointers, as Villanova took a 42-26 halftime advantage. The Wildcats went 10-for-24 from 3-point range during the half.

"I feel like my teammates just did a great job of finding me," Paschall said.

Booth's 3-pointer gave Villanova a 54-29 lead four minutes into the second half.

Oklahoma State got within 60-47 on Cunningham's 3 with 8 1/2 minutes to go.

The Cowboys will face the Florida State-LSU loser Sunday for third place.