SYRACUSE, N.Y., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Maalik Wayns scored 21 points for seventh-ranked Villanova Saturday in their 83-72 road win over No. 3 Syracuse.
Wayns hit a trio of 3-pointers and scored 17 of his points in a big first half for Wildcats (17-2, 5-1 Big East), who held off a late charge by the Orange (18-2, 5-2), whose only two losses have come in conference play.
Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher each scored 16 for the Wildcats, whose 11-game winning streak was broken Monday by Connecticut.
Syracuse leading scorer Kris Joseph was back in the lineup after suffering a head injury last weekend against Cincinnati. Joseph scored 23 points in 34 minutes of playing time and was 8-of-15 from the field.
Syracuse got off to a slow start and trailed 40-29 at halftime. Each team tallied 43 points in the second half with Syracuse going on an 11-4 run that cut the Wildcats lead to 73-67 with 1:43 to play.
