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Villanova goes for third straight win over UConn

Jan 21, 2009 - 11:22 AM No. 21 Villanova (14-3) at No. 3 Connecticut (16-1) 7:00 p.m. EST

HARTFORD, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Connecticut appears to be in midseason form.

The third-ranked Huskies have reeled off five straight wins in Big East play since dropping their opener, their lone blemish this season.

The Huskies look to avoid a three-game losing streak against conference rival and 21st-ranked Villanova when the teams meet Wednesday.

UConn (16-1, 5-1 Big East), which lost to Georgetown 74-63 on December 29, has been getting scoring from a variety of players, as five different Huskies are averaging double figures.

A.J. Price was the offensive star Sunday, scoring 23 points to lead UConn to a 76-61 win over Seton Hall. Hasheem Thabeet had a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds while Jeff Adrien added 13 and 12.

The double-double for Adrien, who leads UConn with 14.5 points per game while grabbing 9.4 boards, was his third straight and sixth of the season.

Villanova (14-3, 2-2) bounced back from a heartbreaking 61-60 loss to then-No. 21 Louisville by cruising past St. John's, 76-57, on Sunday. The loss to Louisville dropped Villanova to 0-3 against ranked opponents this season.

After missing a couple of last-second layups against the Cardinals on January 10, the Wildcats shot 59 percent (30-of-51) from the field to blow out the Red Storm. Dante Cunningham led four players in double figures with 17 points while Antonio Pena added 13 and nine rebounds.

Villanova has won the lone meeting each of the last two seasons. Scottie Reynolds scored 40 points in the win two seasons ago and had 18 in the two-point victory last campaign.