Villanova Can’t Close Out No. 2 UConn in Overtime Dogfight

Villanova Men’s Basketball held the lead for 29 minutes and 45 seconds of their road showdown against No. 2 UConn on Saturday, Jan. 24, but an 8-0 run in the final 90 seconds of overtime proved the difference in a 75-67 loss.

After redshirt freshman Matt Hodge sank a three to put the Wildcats (15-5, 6-3 Big East) up 61-59 with a minute to play, Huskies’ center Tarris Reed Jr. sank a tip-in to tie the game. Bryce Lindsay turned the ball over with 19 seconds to play in regulation, giving Connecticut a chance to win on the final possession, but he and Malachi Palmer combined to force a turnover and send the game to overtime.

Tyler Perkins (16 points, 10 rebounds) drilled a three on the first shot of overtime. The Wildcats didn’t make another basket from the floor, even after Reed fouled out with 2:27 remaining after Duke Brennan (16 points, 14 rebounds) drew contact fighting for a rebound.

Brennan, in turn, received his fourth foul with 6:05 to play in the second half, but the big man still managed to play 10 of the last 11 minutes. He made three of four free throws down the stretch, giving Villanova the lead with one and tying the game with two more, but the Huskies’ late run put the Wildcats away.

Threes Fall for Villanova

Villanova opened the game on an 8-0 run as UConn, playing their first game in a week, worked to find a rhythm. They promptly took a 9-0 lead, the Wildcats failing to press their advantage, but a pair of Askew threes helped the visitors regroup. Although UConn entered play allowing just 27.5 percent of opponents’ three-point shots to fall, the sixth-best mark in the country, Villanova made 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) on the day.

Palmer made a three late with 27 seconds remaining in the first half to put his team up 31-27 at the break. Huskies’ guards Solo Ball (24 points) and Braylon Mullins each made a three early in the second half, forcing a 33-33 tie, but Mullins went down fighting for the ball after an Acaden Lewis steal and never returned. The Wildcats responded with a 6-0 run — complete with a technical foul on Huskies’ head coach Dan Hurley, never shy to give the officials his opinion — but once again UConn responded with nine straight points.

Threes from Hodge and Askew put Villanova back in front. UConn began to find an offensive rhythm in the second half, making 12 of 25 shots after a 10-of-30 start, but the Wildcats managed to hang tight until late in the extra period.

Up next, Villanova will host Providence at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30.