Davidson's Frank Ben-Eze grabs a rebound from Penn's Brian Fitzpatrick along with Cats' Bryant Barr. (Bill Giduz photo)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Brendan McKillop scored 19 points – including 5 three-pointers – to lead Davidson College to a 79-50 men’s basketball victory over the University of Pennsylvania Monday night at Belk Arena.

The game was the first in a four-game home stand for the Wildcats, who improved to 5-8 on the season. The loss left the visiting Quakers winless at 0-8 and spoiled the debut for coach Jerome Allen, a former assistant who was promoted Dec. 14 to replace fired coach Glen Miller.

Celebrity in section 104

Denzell Washington was at Belk Arena Monday night to watch his son, Malcolm, a freshman on the Penn squad. More below.

The Wildcats got off to an 8-0 lead in the first few minutes on baskets by four different players. Bryant Barr hit a pair of back-to-back three-pointers to put the Cats up 19-7 with 13:08 left in the half.

Altogether Davidson hit more than half its shots to build a 27-point lead (46-19) by halftime. McKillop scored 11 of his points in the first half. The Cats also got help from Will Archambault, who scored all 10 of his points in the opening half, including 2 three-point shots.

The Quakers played the Cats closer after halftime, scoring 31 to Davidson’s 33 in the half. Penn was led by sophomore guard Zack Rosen, with 14 points.

Altogether, the Wildcats hit 43 percent – or 13 of 30 – three-point attempts, and 47.5 percent of all their shots during the game.

“We saw quite a few possessions of zone (defenses), and that allowed us to shoot threes,” Coach Bob McKillop said after the game.

McKillop also had 4 assists and two steals on the night, while Archambault had eight rebounds in addition to his 10 points. The Wildcat attack also got help from Jake Cohen (12), Ben Allison (10) and Bryant Barr, whose 9 points all came on threes. Steve Rossiter had eight points and nine rebounds.

“I was thrilled with the way we came out defensively, and defensive aggression allowed us to get into the open court offensively. And I thought we were equally aggressive offensively and I love the fact that we were consistent throughout the game,” McKillop said.

Davidson out-rebounded Penn 43 to 30, and had just 9 turnovers to Penn’s 11.

He said Penn appeared to have “new-found energy” with its new coach Allen, “and I was pleased that our guys responded to that by playing equally hard.”

Two games do not make a long winning streak, but since the Wildcats’ 103-91 loss to Gonzaga in Seattle, the team has been shooting more reliably and playing more aggressively, McKillop said. That helped the Cats stay close to Cornell and to beat Hofstra last week.

So does the coach feel momentum?

“I really do, and it started with Gonzaga,” he said. “We feel that we’re getting better. We’ve got a long way to go, but we are getting better, roles have been defined, guys are starting to understand and embrace roles, and that’s really become a big part our momentum right now.”

The Wildcats are at home again Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. against UMass.

Denzel Washington, whose son Malcolm is a freshman for Penn, watches the game from Section 104. He sat behind the Penn bench. (Tim Cowie photo)

IS THAT DENZEL?

Actor Denzel Washington was spotted a few rows up from the Penn bench in Section 104 of Belk Arena Monday night, as he watched son Malcolm.

Malcolm Washington is listed as a 5-foot 9-inch, 165-pound guard. He played high school at Windward School in Los Angeles.

Dad Denzel was beaming after Malcolm hit a three-point play at the end of the game. The younger Washington drove into the lane and hit his layup and was fouled, then made the free throw to close out the Quakers scoring in the last minute.

PENN VS. DAVIDSON GALLERY
Photos by Tim Cowie. Click any image to launch a slideshow.