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PISCATAWAY -- Jay Wright has seen it before. North Jersey kids come back to play Rutgers at the RAC or Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in Newark, and theyre just way too hyped up and way too emotional and way too wrapped up in trying to prove something to just play basketball.
Weve had a lot of Jersey kids come back here and be out of their minds, Wright said.
Not Ty Johnson.
Johnson, who grew up in Plainfield, about eight miles from Rutgers, gave Villanova 21 huge minutes Thursday night in a 77-71 win over Rutgers.
With starting point guard Maalik Wayns in foul trouble much of the game -- and ultimately fouling out -- Johnson took over, ran the point, played terrific defense and made the two foul shots that clinched Villanovas 12th win of the season.
I had to just come in and play Villanova basketball and not play for the crowd and not play for my friends and family who were here, said Johnson, a 6-foot-3 freshman. Its not about putting on a show. The coaches reminded me of that before the game. Its all about playing for a win.
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It meant a lot to come back here. I played a lot of big games in high school here. Won some, lost some. It was great to have my friends and family here. I just had to make sure none of that affected me.
Thanks in part to Johnson, Villanova was able to hang on and win despite losing all but one point of a 19-point first-half lead.
Ty played with great composure, Wright said.
Rutgers had pulled within three points on a long three-pointer with 45 seconds left by Rutgers guard Myles Mack, a native of Paterson and good friend of Johnson.
With 28 seconds left, Johnson drove the lane, got fouled and hit both free throws for a five-point lead.
Wayns fouled out with 42 seconds left. Rutgers had the ball down three.
We all have total faith in Ty, said Wayns, who led all players with 18 points. He started three games when I was hurt and did a great job, and that experience is really paying off for him. Hes made some really big shots for us and big free throws. We all look at it like when hes out there, we dont take a step backwards at all.
The win was Villanovas first in five games and second in their last nine games. The Wildcats improved to 12-17 overall and 5-12 in the Big East.
The Wildcats finish the regular season with a 2 p.m. game against Cincinnati at the Pavilion before opening play in the Big East tournament in New York on Tuesday.
In the programs 92-year history, Villanova has never lost more than 19 games (1974, 1993).
They made a run, but we just kept grinding, kept grinding, Johnson said. We kept our heads, and that was the difference. Weve been in this position a lot this year, and it came down to who wanted it more.
Johnson is one of five vaunted freshmen on this Villanova team, one of three whos now getting major minutes.
But his season started off slowly. He missed Villanovas European trip after suffering a broken foot that kept him off the court for five months.
Hes only now starting to show what kind of player he really is.
It set me back a lot, Johnson said. Even when I came back, I wasnt as fast or as explosive. It took me a while to get back to where I had been. I had never had a major injury before, and it hurt. But the trainers did a great job with me, and the coaches were great.
Right now, I feel real confident. Those guys make sure to lift me up, and I make sure to lift them up. When Maalik got his fifth foul, I just focused on doing everything coach asked me to. I like being in that position. Its just attitude.
This was a typical Big East game. Ugly. Long. Tons of fouls and turnovers.
Villanova raced out to a 26-8 lead after just 8 12 minutes, then scored 51 points in the final 31 12 minutes.
Wayns and JayVaughn Pinkston shared game-high honors with 18 points each, Dominic Cheek had 14 of his 15 in the first half, and Mouphtaou Yarou added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
As bad as Villanova shot in the second half -- 6-for-22 overall -- their defense was very good the entire game. Rutgers made 22 of 62 shots and five of 21 from three.
Johnsons numbers dont jump out from the box score -- five points and one assist -- but he was huge.
The kids hit some big free throws and big shots in very big situations for us, Wright said. Very good defensive player and smart player. Believe me, 12-17 is no fun, but theres a lot of positives. I dont know if he would have gotten as much playing time if Maalik Wayns didnt get hurt and he proved himself, which gives everybody confidence going into next year with him and also what we can do at the end of games with him right now.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com