TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Corey Stokes scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half, helping No. 7 Villanova pull away to an 83-71 victory over South Florida on Thursday night.
Dominic Cheek had 17 points and Maalik Wayns added 16 to help the Wildcats (13-1, 2-0 Big East) win for the eighth straight time since losing to Tennessee in the final of the NIT Season Tip-off. USF (6-10, 0-3) has dropped five straight despite showing signs of improvement.
Villanova shot 75 percent from 3-point range, with Stokes and Cheek making all nine of the shots they attempted behind the arc.
Limited to three points while only taking two shots in the opening half, Stokes made a pair of 3-pointers during a 9-0 spurt that put Villanova in control for good. Cheek finished the burst with a 3-pointer that put the Wildcats up 63-51 with 8 minutes to go.
The closest USF got down the stretch was seven points. Augustus Gilchrist led the Bulls with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
