Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The ninth-ranked Villanova Wildcats will try to get things straightened out tonight, as they take on the desperate Cincinnati Bearcats in Big East play at Fifth Third Arena.

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the season, the Wildcats came up short, 95-77, at newly top-ranked Syracuse on Saturday. The game was virtually for the Big East title, as Villanova is now 12-4 and two games back of the Orange with only two contests remaining. Losers of three of its last four games, Villanova has stumbled a bit of late and could use a win tonight to regain some confidence.

Cincinnati meanwhile, is in major need of a win tonight and a strong finish if it hopes to catch the eye of the NCAA Tournament committee. The Bearcats have several quality wins to their credit, but have won just twice in their last seven games. On Saturday, the team was handed a 74-68 setback at nationally- ranked West Virginia to fall to just 7-9 in the Big East.

This is just the sixth all-time meeting between Villanova and Cincinnati, with the Wildcats holding a 4-1 advantage in the series.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 20-12 lead on Saturday and it was all downhill from that point. Villanova had trouble competing with the Syracuse big men, as the Wildcats allowed 42 points in the paint and were outrebounded 23-15 on the offensive glass. Scottie Reynolds paced the team in defeat with 16 points and three assists, while Corey Fisher had 14 points and six helpers. On the season, Reynolds tops the roster in scoring (18.9 ppg) and steals (46), to go along with 3.3 apg. Fisher tacks on 13.8 ppg and a team-best 4.1 apg for the Wildcats, while Antonio Pena adds 11.1 ppg and a team-high 7.5 rpg to the mix.

The Bearcats went more than nine minutes without a field goal at one point in the second half, as they watched a 13-point advantage evaporate into a 74-68 loss at West Virginia on Saturday. Cincinnati shot a horrific 29.0 percent from the floor, including just 2-of-11 from downtown in the second half after hitting on 50.0 percent from the field and 7-of-10 from long distance in the first 20 minutes. Deonta Vaughn turned in 15 points and five assists to guide the Bearcats, while Lance Stephenson posted 14 points and nine rebounds. Stephenson currently paces the team in the scoring department at 11.6 ppg and he also brings in 5.2 rpg. Vaughn puts forth 11.3 ppg and a team-best 3.5 apg, and Yancy Gates contributes 10.6 ppg and a team-high 6.1 rpg.