LAS VEGAS • Wooga Poplar had 24 points, Eric Dixon scored 22 and Villanova cruised to an 85-64 victory over Colorado in the first round of the College Basketball Crown at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (20-14) advanced to play the winner of a first-round matchup between Tulane and Southern California in a Thursday quarterfinal.

Elijah Malone finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to pace the Buffaloes (14-21). RJ Smith added 10 points for and Bangot Dak scored nine.

Villanova took the lead with 16:48 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 45-30 at halftime with Poplar racking up 16 points.

Poplar went 11 of 17 from the field with two 3-pointers for Villanova. Dixon hit 8 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers and added four steals. Jordan Longino scored 13 on 6-for-9 shooting.