VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Corey Stokes scored 23 points, Corey Fisher had 19 and No. 8 Villanova won its seventh straight game, 81-65 over Rutgers on Sunday.
Stokes rebounded from a two-point first half to score eight points in the opening 2:11 of the second for the Wildcats (12-1, 1-0 Big East). Stokes, Villanova’s leading scorer at 16.4 points, hit two 3s during an 11-0 run that wiped out a four-point halftime deficit and gave the Wildcats a lead they would never give up.
Led by Jonathan Mitchell’s 17 points, Rutgers (9-4, 0-1) never faded until the waning minutes. The Scarlet Knights lost their second straight game following a six-game winning streak.
Stokes made just two free throws in the first half before finding his stroke. His four 3s were one more than Rutgers managed.
