Villanova Outclassed at Home Against No. 5 UConn

PHILADELPHIA— Villanova Men’s Basketball couldn’t keep up with No. 5 UConn at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday, Feb. 21, falling 73-63 as the Huskies dominated the second half.

The Wildcats (21-6, 12-4 Big East) led 28-25 with just over six minutes to play in the first half, a Tyler Perkins (15 points) dunk capping a 10-2 run. Perkins scored the Wildcats’ first eight points as they jumped in front early, but Villanova ran out of steam out of the first media timeout, sixth man Devin Askew struggling to get shots off as he ran the second unit.

Acaden Lewis tied the game 23-23 with a layup, steal and three-pointer out of a timeout as head coach Kevin Willard went back to his starters, then Matt Hodge used his length to force a pair of turnovers while guarding Huskies’ mainstay Alex Karaban, netting an and-one layup off the second. That burst didn’t last, however, as Villanova made just two shots on their way into the half and none in the first five minutes out of the break, UConn ripping off a 22-6 run that put them firmly in the driver’s seat.

The Huskies dominated the glass 37-24 as Wildcats’ big man Duke Brennan (seven points, three rebounds), playing with tape on his ankle, endured one of his worst games of the season. Villanova made just 40.7 percent of their shots (6-of-24 from three) against UConn’s No. 24 ranked shooting defense; the Huskies made 28 of 51 shots. The Wildcats forced eight first half turnovers, helping them stay within reach, but cold shooting killed them as the game went on.

Up next, Villanova will host Butler at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in their penultimate home game of the 2025-26 season.