VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Maalik Wayns scored 21 points, Dominic Cheek added 20 and Villanova defeated DePaul 87-71 Sunday, snapping a three-game losing skid for the Wildcats.
Mouphtaou Yarou had 14 and JayVaughn Pinkston 13 for Villanova (8-8, 1-3 Big East). The Wildcats had lost their first three conference games — to West Virginia, Marquette and South Florida — for the first time since joining the Big East in 1980-81.
Thursday’s 74-57 loss to South Florida was especially unusual, considering that Villanova had won 51 of its last 52 at The Pavilion, its on-campus arena.
Today, though, Villanova shot 63 percent in the first half, built a 48-36 lead and cruised to its first league victory despite committing a season-high 28 turnovers.
