January 9, 1999

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Geoff Billet had just one basket, but added nine assists and scored 12 of his 17 points from the foul line in the final 6:36 as Rutgers held off Villanova for a 97-87 victory Saturday.

Playing without injured starting center Rashod Kent, Rutgers made 42 of 50 foul shots, tying a team record for free throws made in a game and giving head coach Kevin Bannon his 300th career victory. Rutgers (10-4, 3-2) posted its single-game high for points in a Big East game and also defeated Villanova (11-5, 2-4) for the first time in five games since joining the Big East.

The Scarlet Knights led by as much as 20 in the first half and by 19 at halftime. But Villanova used a 23-6 run at the outset of the second half to cut it to 56-54 with 14:16 remaining. Brian Lynch hit a career-high 32 points to keep Villanova in it.

Jeff Greer responded with a layup and a 3-pointer to start the Knights on a 15-5 run that produced a 71-59 lead with 8:42 left.

Villanova got within 73-68 with 7:03 left, then started sending Rutgers to the foul line. The Knights converted 20 of 22 foul shots over that time as Villanova got no closer than six.

Freshman Dahntay Jones had a career-high 21 points to lead six Rutgers players in double figures. Hodgson had 20, Greer 14, and Alvydas Tenys and Joel Salvi 10 each.

Howard Brown had 17 for Villanova and John Celestand added 10, while Rafal Bigus had nine points and 10 rebounds. Lynch, Celestand, Malik Allen and T.J. Caouette fouled out for Villanova.