No, it wasn’t the start-to-finish blowout many might have envisioned with the No. 5/6 team in the country hosting a school that was picked to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference, but still: Your Villanova Wildcats did what they had to do, and they got by Farleigh Dickinson, 84-61, in last night’s 2009-10 debut at the Ski Lodge.

This was just a one-point game at halftime. And even several minutes into the second half, ‘Nova led by just four, according to Mike Kern’s story in today’s Daily News. But junior Corey Stokes led the way with 20, including 17 in the second half. He also made 5 of his 10 3-pointers. Fellow junior Corey Fisher added 13, and while no one else scored in double figures, that’s not really the point: With all the assembled talent, ‘Nova’s going to get contributions from many.

Perhaps most encouraging for the ‘Cats was this: Junior center Antonio Pena, whose playing time had decreased last season as the big wins kept piling up, chipped in with nine points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. Granted, he wasn’t squaring off against Luke Harangody, but he’s got to start somewhere.

‘Nova (1-0) next plays Monday night at the Ski Lodge against Penn in the season’s first Big 5 game.

Link: ‘Nova beats FDU [Daily News]