VILLANOVA 77, RUTGERS 71: Maalik Wayns collected 18 points and eight assists as visiting Villanova jumped out early and held off Rutgers to snap a four-game slide.

JayVaughn Pinkston added 18 points and Dominic Cheek scored 15 for the Wildcats (12-17, 5-12 Big East), who moved into a tie for 12th place in the conference with the Scarlet Knights (13-17, 5-12) and Pittsburgh.

The Wildcats hit their first nine field goal attempts and led 28-9 nine minutes into the game. Cheek hit three 3-pointers in the burst and four in the first half as Villanova stayed sharp.

The Wildcats ended up shooting 69 percent in the first half and going 8 for 10 from beyond the arc to take a 48-32 lead into the break.

The second half was a completely different story, as Rutgers came out with a 19-4 run to cut the deficit to 52-51 with 12:21 left.

Villanova, which has blown double-digit leads in four losses, managed to recover and never surrendered the advantage.

The Scarlet Knights had a pair of chances in the final minute to keep the game alive but freshman guard Myles Mack turned the ball over on consecutive possessions.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dane Miller led Rutgers with 16 points and nine rebounds … Villanova shot 27 percent in the second half and committed 21 turnovers in the contest … The Scarlet Knights went 22 for 26 (85 percent) from the free throw line.