Villanova Drops Queens Behind Big Night From Acaden Lewis

VILLANOVA, PA.— The Villanova Wildcats picked up their first win under new head coach Kevin Willard, kicking off their three-game Multiple-Team Event (MTE), the Villanova Challenge, with a 94-74 win over Queens University of Charlotte.

Villanova (1-1) forced ten turnovers in the first half — including three steals from junior guard Tyler Perkins — but otherwise struggled on defense, allowing 37 points on 13-of-23 shooting. They also committed ten fouls, allowing the Royals to sink eight free throws and keep the game in reach.

Bryce Lindsay supplanted Devin Askew in the starting lineup after scoring 22 points against BYU and immediately vindicated that decision, scoring ten points during a 12-2 run that put the Wildcats ahead 29-16. Lindsay capped the run with a three-point shot that forced a Royals timeout and went on to finish his night with 25 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

True freshman point guard Acaden Lewis scored 21 points in his second collegiate game, adding three assists and three steals with no turnovers, while forward Duke Brennan put up a 17 point, 20 rebound double-double: that accounted for nearly half of the Wildcats’ 42 rebounds, while Queens managed just 20 as a team.

Matt Hodge was the fourth Wildcat to score in double digits, netting 18 points.

Shaky Defense

Villanova head coach Kevin Willard went to a small-ball lineup with 3:35 to play in the first half, substituting Perkins for Duke Brennan so that 6-foot-6 Malachi Palmer was the tallest Wildcat on the court. The tempo accelerated from there but Villanova’s defense took a major hit: they only managed to outscore the Royals 11-10 in that span because Lindsay went coast to coast for a buzzer-beating layup.

The Wildcats began the second half with a statement, forcing a turnover on each of Queens’ first three possessions. Villanova didn’t make a shot from the field for close to five minutes midway through the frame. While they only outscored the Royals 43-37 in the second half, they still managed to comfortably close out the Royals.

Up next, Villanova Men’s Basketball will host Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in their next game of the Villanova Challenge MTE.