Reynolds scores 21 in home finale, leads No. 7 Villanova past South Florida 74-49

No. 7 Villanova ends skid in 74-49 win over USF

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Scottie Reynolds scored 21 points and Antonio Pena had 14 to lead No. 7 Villanova to a 74-49 win over South Florida on Wednesday night.

Corey Stokes added 11 points to help the Wildcats (23-4, 12-3 Big East) snap their first two-game losing streak in two years. The Wildcats had sunk from No. 2 in The AP poll and from atop the conference standings after dropping games to Connecticut and Pittsburgh.

Back on track, Villanova takes a needed confidence boost into Saturday’s big showdown with Big East-leading and fourth-ranked Syracuse.

The Wildcats were only briefly threatened after opening the game on an 8-0 burst. They also honored a senior class that finished with a 37-game winning streak at their on-campus arena, the Pavilion.

Dominique Jones scored 12 for the Bulls (16-11, 6-9) and Mike Mercer had 11. USF is still chasing its best record since it won 19 games and reached the NIT in 2001-02.

There was little the Bulls could do to stop Villanova at home. Reynolds highlighted the senior class festivities and heard the loudest ovation of the night. Billed as having “delivered one of the most extraordinary careers in Villanova history,” the guard who led them to the Final Four last season scored nine points in the first half for an early lead.

Stokes hit 3s on consecutive possessions to send the Wildcats into the break with a nine-point lead. It would have been double digits had Anthony Crater not hit a buzzer-beating 3 going into the break.

The 3 incensed Villanova coach Jay Wright, barking at his team as they hustled into the locker room.

The Wildcats couldn’t pull away.

Jones hit a pair of 3s that sliced the lead to six and suddenly the Bulls had visions of dealing Villanova its third straight loss.

Nope.

The Wildcats did what they usually do — always at home: take over.

Stokes converted a three-point play and Reynolds scored to make it 53-41. Corey Fisher and Dominic Cheek each stepped in front of passes for steals and easy baskets — including a rattling one-handed jam from Cheek — that made it 56-41.

Threat over. Losing streak gone.

The two-game skid put a dent in Villanova’s bid to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. There’s still time for the Wildcats to get back in contention for one of the top seeds. Winning at Syracuse would be a start. The game is officially a sellout and will break the Orange’s NCAA record for the largest on-campus crowd to see a college basketball game — about 35,000.

Villanova turned this one into a rout over the final eight minutes. Reynolds checked out for good with 1:14 left and the Wildcats ahead 74-47. He hugged Wright, then took turns going down the bench hugging his teammates and staff. The crowd bellowed “Scottie Reynolds!” in appreciation of the third-leading scorer in team history.

Villanova shot 54 percent in the second half and Reynolds was 7 of 14 from the floor overall.