Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - Dante Cunningham finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, as the 20th-ranked Villanova Wildcats held on for a 70-61 win over the South Florida Bulls.

Reggie Redding added 11 points, and Dwayne Anderson had 11 boards and seven points for Villanova (15-4, 3-3 Big East), which rebounded from a loss Wednesday at Connecticut.

Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher each contributed 10 points in the Wildcats' win.

"It is a road win. I don't think there is anything more significant that you can say," Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. "In this league, to get a road win is so valuable."

Augustus Gilchrist had 18 points and seven rebounds to pace USF (7-12, 2-5), which was looking for its first winning streak of the Big East season. The Bulls defeated DePaul on Tuesday, but the loss to Villanova was USF's third in four games.

Chris Howard had 15 points and four assists for the Bulls, while Jesus Verdejo added 13 points and Dominique Jones 11.

"You can't fault our guys on their effort," USF head coach Stan Heath said. "They fought out there on the court to get the win. It is not enough to get close for us. We have got to find a way to finish games like this. Unfortunately it just didn't happen today."

In a tie game at intermission, Villanova asserted itself with a seven-point burst to open the second half. Cunningham opened it with a jumper, and Redding closed it with a layup for a 39-32 lead.

Villanova continued to hold an edge, but not by more than a few possessions, until Gilchrist's three-pointer tied the game approaching the midpoint of the half. Jones followed with a free throw for a 48-47 USF lead, but 'Nova countered with a Redding layup and Anderson triple to pull ahead.

Later in the half, Gilchrist had a dunk, and Aris Williams had a fastbreak layup to bring the Bulls within three with a little over 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

Gilchrist then made his way to the foul line with 1:32 left, but sank only one to get USF within 60-58, and Villanova grabbed the rebound of the second shot.

Anderson then drove into the lane and tossed up a right-handed layup as he was fouled. He made the shot but missed the free throw, though the Wildcats got the rebound again. Scottie Reynolds was fouled, but made just 1-of-2 for a 1:07 left for a 63-58 Villanova edge.

The Wildcats again controlled the glass and Reynolds earned two more trips to the line after his first. He made 3-of-4 shots to put his team up 66-58, and Villanova held on for the final 45 seconds to seal the win.

USF ended a back-and-forth first half with three free throws, tying the game at 32-32 going into the break.

Games Notes

Villanova made 21-of-34 free throws, while USF made 16-of-29...Villanova outrebounded USF, 44-34...USF plays at Louisville this upcoming Wednesday...Villanova hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday.