Buzzer-Beaters and Breakaways: Big 5 Classic Lights Up Philadelphia
- Adam Mack
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Big 5 Classic returned to Xfinity Mobile Arena for an exciting tripleheader. In the fifth-place game, La Salle held off Drexel’s late comeback. Saint Joseph’s buzzer-beating three-pointer secured third place over Temple, and Villanova reclaimed Big 5 glory with a victory over Penn.
Check out the recap of today’s games.
La Salle defeats Drexel 69–64
La Salle held off Drexel’s second-half comeback to start the day. During the first half, it was all La Salle—not because the Explorers dominated, but because Drexel missed shot after shot. The Dragons were outscored 15–1 over the final 10 minutes of the first half. Even though Drexel controlled the offensive glass (12–4) in the first half, they failed to capitalize on their extra opportunities. Meanwhile, La Salle dominated the paint, scoring 28 points in the first half.
In the second half, it was La Salle’s turn to struggle. The same issues Drexel had in the first half now plagued the Explorers. La Salle generated plenty of open looks but could not convert. Drexel spent most of the game using a two-man full-court press, but with around 10 minutes remaining, the Dragons switched to a five-man press. La Salle struggled to adjust and turned the ball over several times. Despite the massive shift in momentum, La Salle’s strong first-half lead was enough to secure the victory.
Saint Joseph’s battles Temple for the 162nd time
This game was a defensive battle from the opening tip. Both teams did a fantastic job forcing turnovers and contesting shots. The teams remained scoreless through the first three minutes. Temple’s offense found life when Derrain Ford began getting into the heads of Saint Joseph’s players. An early scuffle fired up the Owls.
Throughout the game, momentum swung back and forth. At times, Saint Joseph’s looked unstoppable. Then, in the blink of an eye, Temple would seize control and reclaim the lead.
Unfortunately, the game also featured a “third team”—the officials. Both teams battled foul trouble, as each entered the bonus within seven minutes of the half and spent nearly half of the second half in the double bonus. Frustration grew for both coaches and players as the whistle remained active.
With Temple up five, the Hawks leaned on Deuce Jones II. The reigning A-10 Newcomer of the Year took over, scoring Saint Joseph’s final 10 points. Down two with seven seconds left, head coach Steve Donahue made sure the ball went to his star. At the buzzer, Jones drilled a three-pointer to give the Hawks the victory.
Villanova takes the Big 5 title for the first time since 2022
Villanova reclaimed the Big 5 title for the first time since 2023, marking their first appearance and victory in the Big 5 Classic Championship since the format change in 2023. In his first season as head coach of the Wildcats, Kevin Willard captured the city championship. Villanova defeated Penn 90-63
The first half was a back-and-forth battle. Even though this matchup looked like a David vs. Goliath situation on paper, Penn did an impressive job keeping pace with Villanova. Cam Thrower got off to a strong shooting start for the Quakers. Penn relied heavily on the three-point shot to stay competitive, as they struggled to score consistently in the paint but found success from beyond the arc.
Villanova’s biggest strength is its depth. The Wildcats have multiple players who can beat you in different ways. Early on, it looked like Matt Hodge might be the difference after he hit two quick three-pointers. Then Duke Brennan took over, and it became all about him. Penn had no answer for Brennan, as he dominated on both ends of the floor. He was a major factor in limiting Penn’s presence in the paint. Kevin Willard also had no hesitation in going deep into his bench and getting a variety of players involved.
Penn attempted to make a second-half run, but that effort became much more difficult when star forward Ethan Roberts exited the game with an injury to his left leg. Even before leaving, Roberts struggled offensively in the championship matchup. Michael Zanoni and Cam Thrower tried to compensate for his absence, but Villanova’s depth proved to be too much.
With the win, Villanova secured its 22nd overall and 15th outright Big 5 title. Both are most most amongst Big 5 teams!
-Adam Mack
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