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(Sports Network) - The 10th-ranked Villanova Wildcats wrap up a two-game road trip tonight, as they pay a visit to Rosemont to take on the DePaul Blue Demons in Big East play at Allstate Arena.
The Wildcats road swing started at Syracuse on Sunday, as Villanova captured a thrilling 89-86 victory for the season sweep of the Orange. It was the eighth win in the past nine outings for the red-hot Wildcats, who improved to a healthy 22-5 overall. At 10-4 in conference, the Wildcats sit in sole possession of fifth place in the Big East standings, just two games back in the loss column of the four teams in front of them.
As for DePaul, it still resides at the bottom of the standings and is the lone Big East team without a league win, having gone 0-14. On Saturday, the team took on now top-ranked Pittsburgh and was handled 80-61. The Blue Demons have now dropped their last four games by at least 19 points and haven't posted a victory since defeating Alcorn State all the way back on December 28th.
DePaul and Villanova split a pair of meetings in 2007-08, and the Wildcats now hold an 11-8 edge in the all-time series between the programs.
The Wildcats dropped in 52.5 percent of their shots from the field and 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, as they nipped Syracuse on Sunday. The team also went a decent 18-of-26 at the foul line, in addition to holding a 40-36 edge on the boards. Dwayne Anderson, averaging just 8.2 ppg on the season, erupted for 22 points to lead six double-digit scorers for Villanova. Corey Fisher came off the bench and added 16 points, and Shane Clark had 15 and eight boards. Dante Cunningham notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards, while Reggie Redding and Scottie Reynolds checked in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. On the season, Cunningham has been terrific at both ends of the floor for the Wildcats, leading the team with 16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 39 steals. Reynolds follows at 15.3 ppg and he hands out a team-high 3.7 apg, while Fisher chips in with 11.2 ppg for a Villanova squad that is averaging a hardy 80.6 ppg in Big East play.
The Blue Demons had now answer for Pitt down in the paint on Saturday, as they were outrebounded by an incredible 49-25 margin in suffering their school- record 14th straight loss. DePaul tried to hang around by making good on 11- of-25 attempts from long distance, but Pitt shot 46.4 percent from the floor and controlled the low post for the win. Dar Tucker guided the Demons with 18 points and eight boards, while Will Walker tallied 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from downtown. On the campaign, Tucker tops the Demons in scoring at 18.4 ppg and he is also collecting 5.2 rpg. Mac Koshwal nearly averages a double-double with 13.3 ppg and a team-high 9.8 rpg, while Walker chips in with 12.8 ppg. Overall, DePaul is being outrebounded by 10.6 rpg and outscored by 17.5 ppg in Big East action and that certainly explains its struggles.
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