PHILADELPHIA -- Jay Wright led Villanova on a tour around the concourse of the Palestra, the basketball shrine that has served as the hardwood home for many of the games greats.Wilt Chamberlain played high school ball here. Kobe and LeBron, too.Theres even a spot dedicated to the greatest Villanova team of all -- at least, at the time the display was installed -- the 1985 national champions. The Palestra curators might want to clear space for `Novas 2016 title team -- and maybe even prep a new wing for this years Wildcats.Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Josh Hart had 21 to help No. 1 Villanova hold off La Salle 89-79 on Tuesday night.I just wanted to remind them of the history, remind them of the tradition, of what happens in here, Wright said.La Salle (4-3) came oh-so close to making an upset happen.Johnnie Shuler and Pookie Powell made late 3-pointers that kept the deficit at seven. La Salle, which has never defeated a No. 1 team, got more late help from long range when Jordan Price popped a 3 that made it a four-point game.La Salle fans went wild. The Wildcats seemed shaken.But the great city teams that decorated the 89-year-old walls of the ol gym nestled on Penns Ivy League campus dont really lose to unranked underdogs.And the national champs werent going down to La Salle.Donte DiVincenzos late dunk and a handful of free throws sealed the win for Villanova (9-0) in its first game of the season as the top-ranked team in the country.Powell scored 27 points. La Salle just didnt have enough to get past Villanova and earn its biggest win since it reached the 2013 Sweet 16.Brunson, whose father, Rick, starred at Temple, made 10 of 17 shots and hit a pair of big buckets down the stretch to give Villanova a 10-point cushion.Hes one of those guys that you know at any point that you need a bucket, he can go get one for you, Wright said.Brunson just might find his image stamped on the Palestra wall a decade or so from now.It gave us time to bond, Brunson said of the tour. We realized what games are played here, what teams played here, who was from the area.Mikal Bridges scored 16 points and national championship game star Kris Jenkins had 12.When the balls bouncing around, they seem to get it and make a 3, La Salle coach John Giannini said. The reason for their excellence on a national level is their intangibles. They dont let up. I dont care if theyre playing us, playing Kentucky, anybody. That is the same team every single second of every single game they play.BIG PICUTRELa Salle: The Explorers lost three times to No. 1 teams in the 1950s, once each in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2010s. La Salle last lost to a No. 1 team 90-65 to Kansas on Dec. 12, 2009. They are 0-8 vs. No. 1 foes.We just had a lot of lapses and breakdowns, Powell said.Villanova: The Wildcats went 5-1 as an AP Top 25 No. 1 last season. They were the top team in the country for three weeks and proved they were worthy of the ranking with the programs second national championship. The Wildcats are trying to become the first repeat champs since Florida in 2006-07.POLL IMPLICATIONSVillanova was 5-1 last season at No. 1 and is trying to better that mark this year to stay in the top spot.We didnt really handle it a certain way last year, Hart said.BIG 17Villanova continued to dominate the Philadelphia city series known as the Big 5. The Wildcats extended their series-record win streak to 17 against La Salle, Penn, Saint Josephs and Temple. The Wildcats go for the 4-0 sweep Dec. 13 against Temple.UP NEXTLa Salle faces another Big East team Saturday in Georgetown.Villanova gets its toughest test in weeks when it plays No. 23 Notre Dame in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Austin Rivers Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Wholesale Wizards Jerseys . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. http://www.cheapwizardsjerseys.com/ . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Wizards Jerseys Outlet . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Jeff Green Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams say defensive end Robert Quinn is in stable condition after checking himself into a hospital with an illness thats unrelated to football.Coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that Quinn is still undergoing tests but things look encouraging after speaking to him and his wife, Christina. Fisher did not provide details about the nature of Quinns medical issue.He is feeling much better, Fisher said. He kept saying to me over and over, `Coach, I just want to get back and get my body right and get on the practice field as fast as I can.The sixth-year pro from North Carolina and 2011 first-round draft pick has two sacks this season along with two forced fumbles, giving him an NFL-best 19 since 2013.He has been with the Rams for his entire NFL career, emerging as a key starter and the top pass-rusher on their vaunted defensive line. He played in the Rams 9-6 road victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.ddddddddddddQuinn, 26, underwent back surgery last December and spent much of the offseason recuperating. He has started six of the Rams nine games this season while overcoming a series of minor injuries.Quinn was diagnosed with a tumor below his brain while in high school. The tumor has caused headaches when it isnt properly drained, but Quinn has said the tumor is checked regularly.Along with his standout play, Quinn has made headlines this season for his decision to raise a fist during the national anthem before every game. Following the lead of San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Quinn called it a silent protest against police brutality and other racial injustices.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '