Villanova Beats Maryland-Eastern Shore 81-44

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Kris Jenkins had 15 points to lead No. 12 Villanova to an 81-44 rout over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday night.

Daniel Ochefu, Darrun Hilliard and Dylan Ennis each scored 10 points for the Wildcats (2-0), who were picked to win the Big East in the preseason. Villanova returns four of five starters from a team that went 29-5 overall and 16-2 in the Big East to finish first in the regular season before losing to eventual national champion UConn in the NCAA tournament.

Devin Martin had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-2), which 71-46 at Virginia Tech in its season opener on Friday. The Hawks played their second of eight straight games away from Hytche Athletic Center.

The game was part of the Progressive Legends Classic. Villanova next hosts Bucknell on Thursday before the tournament shifts to Brooklyn's Barclays Center Nov. 24 with Villanova playing No. 15 VCU and No. 24 Michigan facing Oregon.

Ryan Arcidiacono's 3-pointer 3:55 into the game gave Villanova a 13-2 lead and the Wildcats poured it on from that point.

Consecutive dunks by Phil Booth and Hilliard in the final minute of the first half helped Villanova take a 30-point lead.

Villanova struggled from the field in its 77-66 season-opening win over Lehigh on Friday night, hitting 38 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from beyond the arc. But the Wildcats found the familiar rims of their on-campus home to be quite comfortable in the opening 20 minutes, making 54.8 percent from the field. They finished 56.9 percent for the game.

The Wildcats led by as many as 46 points in the second half.

TIP-INS

Villanova: The Wildcats eclipsed 70 points in both of their wins this season. They were 25-1 last season when scoring more than 70 points. . Coach Jay Wright will face his alma mater on Thursday when Villanova hosts Bucknell.

Maryland-Eastern Shore: The Hawks return no starters and feature eight newcomers with four freshmen and four junior college transfers under first-year coach Bobby Collins as they look to improve on last season's 6-24 mark. UMES' returning leading scorer, Devon Walker (6.9 ppg), went scoreless against Villanova.

UP NEXT

Villanova hosts Bucknell on Thursday.

Maryland-Eastern Shore plays at Mount St. Mary's at on Wednesday.

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