February 3, 1999

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Malik Allen had 22 points and Brian Lynch added 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds as Villanova withstood a second-half Rutgers outburst and gained an 84-78 win over the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday.

The Wildcats (17-6 overall, 8-5 Big East) led by as many as 18 in the first half and still had a 13-point advantage with 14:25 left in the second half. But Dahntay Jones, who finished with 24 points, started the comeback for the Scarlet Knights (14-7, 6-5), scoring 11 straight points in a 13-4 run to pull Rutgers to within three, 61-58.

It was then Allen's turn for Villanova. The senior center went to work on Rutgers' Rashod Kent, forcing him to foul out with 2:20 left in the game. Allen, who was nine-for-11 from the field in the game, scored 10 of his points down the stretch against Kent, who was in foul trouble, and Joel Salvi, a backup player.

The Scarlet Knights got the deficit to one, 77-76, when Jeff Greer sank a driving layup and a foul shot with 2:02 left. But Villanova scored seven of the game's final nine points, all from the line, to secure the win.

T.J. Caouette had a career-high 16 points for the Wildcats, who are now 91-15 when scoring 75 points under Steve Lappas. It was the second straight game in which Villanova had a double-digit second half lead and had to win it down the stretch. In their double-overtime win over Georgetown on Saturday, the Wildcats led by 17 in the second half before needing a three-pointer at the buzzer by Jermaine Medley to win it.

Geoff Billet had 15 points, while Jeff Greer, Rob Hodgson and Kent all added 10 for the Scarlet Knights, who broke a four-game winning streak.