Villanova 70, NJIT 60: Ryan Arcidiacono scored a game-high 17 points as the Wildcats held off a strong challenge from the visiting Highlanders for their fifth straight victory.

NJIT trailed by as much as 10 in the second half before battling back to tie. JayVaughn Pinkston had five straight points to build a 59-54 lead for Villanova with 4:50 left and Arcidiacono had a big basket and a key assist down the stretch to help seal it.

Darrun Hilliard contributed 12 points while making eight of his 10 free throw attempts for the Wildcats (9-4). Maurice Sutton and Pinkston added 10 points apiece for Villanova, which forced 19 turnovers.

Ryan Woods scored 13 points, Chris Flores had 11 and PJ Miller added 10 for NJIT (6-6), which was 8-of-15 from the free-throw line. Flores, the team’s leading scorer, missed more than 10 minutes in the second half with an undisclosed injury but returned.

Villanova shot just 25 percent from the field in the first half but was 11-of-14 at the free-throw line to take a 32-27 lead at intermission. Arcidiacono made three 3-pointers and the Wildcats forced 11 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Freshman Daniel Ochefu had a career-high 11 rebounds for Villanova. … NJIT is 0-15 against Big East opponents, including 0-4 this season. … Villanova was 25-of-33 from the free throw line.