The Villanova Wildcats suffered their third straight loss of the season Thursday night, falling 57-74 to the South Florida Bulls, at home no less. At 7-8 on the year, Nova is in critical danger of missing out on a NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since the 2004 postseason.
The Pavilion is usually a safe haven for the Wildcats, with just one loss coming in the 52 home games prior to Thursday. Nova struggled all night offensively, however, shooting under 38 percent from the field and making just four of their 20 3-point attempts. Maalik Wayns led the Wildcats with 17 points, but got there on just 5-of-13 shooting and four free throws.
The Bulls were led by Jawanza Poland, who matched a career high with 20 points off the bench. His 7-of-12 night helped USF to 46 percent shooting for the night. The Bulls also held a 36-18 rebound advantage for the game, giving the Wildcats plenty to work on as they try to regroup and salvage what so far appears to be a sinking season.