Cincinnati Tops Villanova 72-68 In Big East Finale

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — The Big East tournament will have to start without Cincinnati.

The Bearcats pulled together during suspensions, beat ranked teams down the stretch, and were rewarded with a pair of off days in New York.

Yancy Gates scored 16 points and Dion Dixon had 14 to lead Cincinnati to a 72-68 win over Villanova on Saturday in the final game for both teams before the Big East tournament.

The Bearcats (22-9, 12-6) got late 3s from Sean Kilpatrick and JaQuon Parker to snap a tie game and send them to their fifth win in six games. Kilpatrick had 13 points and Parker 11 to help the Bearcats clinch one of four double-byes in this week's conference tournament in New York. The Bearcats, who participated in an ugly brawl against Xavier this season, learned they'd open on Thursday once No. 8 Marquette beat No. 11 Georgetown 83-69.

"It feels good to get the double-bye," Dixon said. "You can sit back and watch a few teams. It feels good to get off your feet and rest for a few games."

Maalik Wayns led Villanova (12-18, 5-13) with 26 points and Mouphtaou Yarou scored 16. After making 12 of 18 3-pointers in a win against Rutgers, the Wildcats followed with an 8 for 22 effort.

The Bearcats made only 7 of 22 but started connecting down the stretch to put the game away.

Gates became the seventh player in Cincinnati history to reach 1,400 career points and 850 career rebounds. The Bearcats won 12 conference games for the first time since joining the Big East.

Next up, keep the winning going in the tournament.

"It's good to see us have a little success and something to go out with," Dixon said.

Kilpatrick, who missed his first four 3-point attempts, connected on one with 4:13 left to snap a tie game and make it 61-58. Parker followed with his first 3 the lead was six.

Dixon followed with yet another timely 3 for a five-point lead that seemed to clinch it. But Wayns rushed down and buried his fifth 3-pointer of the game that made it 67-65 with 40.1 seconds left.

Nova cranked the full court pressure and nearly forced a turnover when Cincinnati fumbled — but quickly recovered — the ball and called timeout.

Dixon was fouled and swished two free throws and it was back to a four-point game. After exchanging 3s, the teams started swapping free-attempts. Yarou went 1 for 2 — but Parker was perfect on his two free throws to make it 71-68 with 10.4 seconds left.

Wayns again trimmed the lead with a driving layup. But Dixon made 1 of 2 free throws to seal the win.

"Great accomplishment for our team considering all we've been through this year," Bearcats coach Mick Cronin said.

This has been a season to forget for the Wildcats. Barring an unlikely run to the Big East tournament title, the Wildcats could miss out on postseason play for the first time coach Jay Wright's 11 seasons. Villanova has made seven straight NCAA tournaments and a Final Four in 2009. Wright took the Wildcats to the NIT each his first three seasons.

"I'm very disappointed," Wright said. "It's been part of this year. We just have not been consistent."

With former Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook and NBA guard Malik Allen (who both starred at Nova) watching courtside, along with Larry Brown, the Bearcats made the smart, experienced plays in the second half that was enough to put away the Wildcats.

Wayns, who moved into 48th on Villanova's career scoring list, converted a three-point play that brought the Wildcats within two and Markus Kennedy followed with a layup that tied the game 58-all.

The Wildcats went on a 3-minute scoring drought that was the opening the Bearcats needed to take the lead for good. Dixon, Kilpatrick and Parker, Cincinnati's trio of starting guards, knew when to step up and deliver the big buckets.

"Their guards just dominated the game," Wright said. "They just into the lane any time they wanted."

The Bearcats reinvented themselves when Gates and center Cheikh Mbodj were suspended for their roles in a brawl against Xavier. They evolved into a guard-driven off and took off, beating Louisville and Marquette during this recent hot streak that pushed them into a prime spot in New York. The Bearcats are still consistent, but when they're hitting their 3s — much like they did in the final minutes against Villanova — they can be difficult to beat.

"I thought we were going to be a team that develops and improves throughout the year, and I think we have," Cronin said.

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