Sophomore guard Maalik Wayns netted 17 first-half points to help the No. 7 Villanova Wildcats take a 40-29 halftime lead over No. 3 Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Villanova shot eight of 13 from 3-point land, including three from Wayns, to dominate the first half of play. Syracuse, which trailed by as much as 14 points, has shot 10-for-27 (37 percent) from the field and committed nine turnovers.
Junior forward Kris Joseph, who did not play Monday because of a head injury that he suffered last Saturday, has scored a team-best seven points. However, those seven points came in the game's first five minutes that featured SU leading 9-7. The Orange (18-1, 5-1) then began to play sloppy and 'Nova got hot from 3-point land.
Senior guard Corey Fisher has made all three of his 3-point shots to tally nine points. Fisher also has four assists. Senior guard Corey Stokes (five points) and sophomore guard Dominic Cheek (three) also have made 3-pointers.
Senior forward Rick Jackson and sophomore guard Brandon Triche have each scored five points for Syracuse. Senior point guard Scoop Jardine is 1-for-6 from the field with just two points. The Orange cut the lead to 11 points when freshman guard Dion Waiters made two-point bucket then added a free throw, with about a minute-and-a-half remaining, on SU's next possession.