Jan. 20, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
WIN TIES BEST BIG EAST START
Villanova improved to 6-0 in BIG EAST play with tonight's victory and matched the program's best start ever in conference play. The Wildcats also began 6-0 against conference competition in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Those two other teams that each won their first six league contests both went on to finish with 24-win seasons and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
WINNING BY 20+ POINTS
The Wildcats posted their second conference win by 20 or more points with tonight's 26-point final margin against Rutgers. The team also defeated DePaul by a 27-point final spread (99-72) earlier this month. The 2004-05 season was the last time Villanova had multiple 20-point victories in conference play. That season, the Wildcats recorded three BIG EAST wins of 20 or more points, including a 38-point victory over West Virginia (84-46), a 33-point win at Rutgers (94-61) and a 21-point triumph over Seton Hall (79-58).
RUTGERS SERIES
Villanova is now 25-8 (.758) all-time against Rutgers, including 13-4 (.765) in regular season BIG EAST meetings. The Wildcats have won six of the last seven games in the series and are 7-3 versus the Scarlet Knights under head coach Jay Wright.
HOMETOWN CONNECTION
Three members of the Villanova roster either are from New Jersey or played high school ball in the state. Junior guard Corey Fisher attended St. Patrick's High School, junior guard Corey Stokes is from Bayonne and freshman guard Dominic Cheek hails from Jersey City. These three players from the Garden State were the top three scorers in the game for the Wildcats. Cheek poured in a season-high 17 points, while Stokes added 16 points and Fisher 15. All three posted the same 6-of-10 shooting performance from the field.
CHEEK LEADS TEAM IN SCORING
Freshman guard Dominic Cheek scored a season-high 17 points in tonight's game, as he reached double figures for the second time this season (previously had 10 points versus La Salle on November 28). He went 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 3-of-3 from the free throw line while adding four rebounds and a steal in 17 minutes on the floor.
DIFFERENT LEADING SCORER
Tonight's game was the first time in the last 11 contests since a win over Drexel on December 2 that either senior guard Scottie Reynolds or junior guard Corey Stokes were not among the team's leading scorers. In the win over Drexel, junior forward Antonio Pena netted a team-best 19 points. In the 10 games following that contest, Reynolds was the leading scorer eight times, Stokes was the leading scorer once and three players combined to lead the team in scoring another time. That came against Fordham on December 19 when Reynolds, junior guard Corey Fisher and Pena all scored 17 points.
BOARD GAMES
Villanova enjoyed a big margin on the glass in tonight's game, outrebounding Rutgers by a final count of 52-28. The tally included a season-high tying 23 offensive rebounds. The Wildcats enjoyed a 46-28 scoring margin in the paint. In addition, the +24 margin on the glass is the biggest since Villanova had a +27 rebound margin (48-21) against Rider on December 20, 2006 in a 108-61 victory. Junior forward Antonio Pena and freshman center Mouphtaou Yarou had a team-best nine rebounds apiece. The nine caroms for Yarou were a season high. He had seven of his rebounds in the first half.
AWESOME ARMWOOD
Freshman forward Isaiah Armwood scored a season-high nine points in tonight's game and did so without missing a shot attempt. All nine of his points came in the first half, when he went 4-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 at the free throw line. Armwood added four rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes of action.
BREAKING THE GAME OPEN
Villanova put the game away with a 24-6 run that spanned both halves and led by as many as 32 points before settling on the final margin. The Wildcats led 59-27 at the 16:30 mark of the second half following a 12-2 run to start the period and extend what had been a 22-point lead (47-25) at the intermission. Villanova had ended the first half on a 12-4 run to stretch a 35-21 lead with 4:05 to play before halftime. Junior guard Corey Stokes made three of his four three-pointers and scored nine points during the 24-6 run, while freshman guard Maalik Wayns scored all seven of his points during that spurt.
NEXT UP
Villanova will travel to Madison Square Garden on Saturday at Noon for a matchup against St. John's. The Wildcats have won the last five meetings against the Red Storm since a loss back in 2003.
