Villanova back on track with win over South Florida

IF THERE was one thing Villanova did not want to bring to Saturday's crucial game at Syracuse, it was a three-game losing streak.

Instead, Villanova avoided falling into the quintessential trap game and eventually dismissed visiting South Florida last night, 74-49.

In his final game at the Pavilion, as he had done so many times before, Scottie Reynolds sparked the Wildcats with 21 points. The contribution made by fellow senior Reggie Redding (two points), isn't in the box score. Redding was part of the contingent that limited USF's Dominique Jones. The Bulls' junior guard came into the game averaging a Big East-best 24.2 points, but was held to only 12 points on 2-for-10 shooting. Jones, who also was fighting a flu bug, did not have a field goal in the first half and was in foul trouble throughout.

"These two right here," Villanova coach Jay Wright said, pointing to Reynolds and Redding afterward, "we're going to miss them. They get this team ready. They are our leaders."

For Villanova, it was a much-needed victory that had a number of paw prints on it.

Antonio Pena continued his improved play with 14 points and seven boards. Mouphtaou Yarou played a season-high 24 minutes and chipped in six rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Corey Stokes hit a couple three-pointers. Dominic Cheek had a couple of dunks during a crucial stretch of the second half that iced the game.

"They just shifted into another gear," USF coach Stan Heath said. "They kept hitting, kept punching."

With about 5 minutes left and the game well in hand, the Villanova student body was chanting "We Want Russell."

It took until 1:28 was left, but Wright eventually gave in to their wishes and inserted seldom-used Russell Wooten, the other senior on the roster. It was that kind of night.

Following the game, Wooten, Redding and Reynolds stood on a table and faced the adoring student body. They dismounted to a cheer of "Thank you, seniors."

"They've been with us for 4 years," said Redding, the St. Joe's Prep product. "It was good to pay them back."

Villanova still has a home game remaining against West Virginia on March 6 at the Wachovia Center, but it closed out the Pavilion in style. South Florida was hanging tough and trailed by only six with 14:36 left before Villanova exploded with a 30-10 run. Reynolds had 12 of those points and has 2,134 for his career. Only Kerry Kittles (2,243) and Keith Herron (2,170) are ahead of him in Wildcats history.

The victory was the 'Cats 37th in a row at their on-campus facility and stopped a two-game skid that came at the hands of Connecticut and No. 12 Pittsburgh.

It also sets up Saturday's much-anticipated visit to Syracuse, which already has sold more tickets than for any other game in Carrier Dome history.

Villanova (23-4, 12-3 Big East) is ranked seventh, and a win would give it a share of the Big East lead. Syracuse (26-2, 13-2) is fourth and a win by the Orange would clinch the Big East's regular season.

"It was more important for us to play well [last night]," Wright said. "Of course, a win helps. But we didn't play well the last two games, and our opponents had something to do with that. Defensively, we did a great job. I feel like we played good basketball again."

Reynolds and Redding took charge of the team this week. They held meetings that were closed to the coaches and watched tape of last year's win over Pittsburgh that sent the Wildcats to the Final Four. It's what leaders do.

"We just had to get back to playing good defense," Reynolds said, "playing together and just playing hard." *