Despite Eli Carter scoring a game-high 23 points, the No. 11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost to the No. 14 Villanova Wildcats 70-49 in the first round of the 2012 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Scarlet Knights went from making all seven of their 3-point attempts in the first half to missing all six treys in the second, as the Wildcats advanced to the second round to play the No. 5 South Florida Bulls Wednesday (9 p.m. on ESPN).
Junior guard Maalik Wayns finished with a team-best 28 points for 'Nova, which out-rebounded Rutgers 39-23 and went 22-for-30 from the free throw line. Junior forward Mouphtaou Yarou added nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Scarlet Knights finished the game shooting just 29 percent from the floor, including 7-for-16 from long range (RU was 7-for-11 in the first half). Rutgers scored only 15 points in the second half.
Junior guard Dane Miller netted seven points for the Scarlet Knights, while freshman guard Myles Mack added six but was held scoreless in the second half.
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