Corey Stokes pumped in 24 points and No. 8 Villanova earned this season's bragging rights in Philadelphia college hoops with its 78-74 victory over Temple at The Pavilion. Maalik Wayns added 21 for the Wildcats (11-1), who weathered a 13-0 second-half run by the Owls (9-3) and finished a perfect 4-0 in the Philadelphia “Big 5” standings.

The Owls controlled the lead for much of the first half, but Wayns' buzzer-beating jumper pulled Villanova to within 40-39 and the Wildcats kept the momentum in building a 57-47 advantage before Temple briefly regained the lead on its big rally.

Lavoy Allen tallied 21 points and Juan Fernandez scored 20 for Temple, which had defeated Villanova, 75-65, behind Fernandez's 33 points a year ago when the Wildcats were ranked No. 3.

It was the first Big 5 tilt for the Owls, who went 4-0 against their rivals last season. Temple faces Penn in January, and plays Saint Joe's and La Salle during the Atlantic-10 schedule.

Villanova was coming off a 76-36 rout over Monmouth on Dec. 22 and opens Big East play Sunday at home against another New Jersey school, Rutgers. Temple starts its A-10 slate at Fordham on Jan. 5.