Villanova Sent Home After 49-Point Second Half Onslaught

SAN DIEGO — Villanova Men’s Basketball’s first season under head coach Kevin Willard came to an end at San Diego’s Viejas Arena on Friday, March 20, the Wildcats falling 86-76 to Utah State after allowing a 17-4 run in the final seven minutes.

Villanova led 70-67 after a Tyler Perkins triple but made just two shots the rest of the way; the second, a Duke Brennan layup, came with the Aggies nursing a double digit lead inside the one-minute mark. Utah State led 22-13 eight minutes into the first half but momentum swung in the Wildcats’ favor behind a three-point onslaught.

They made 14 of 30 shots from beyond the arc on the day, Bryce Lindsay (25 points, 6-of-11 from three) leading the charge. Tyler Perkins tied the game 25-25, stepping up as the shot clock expired to heave a three off the backboard, then a Lindsay layup gave Villanova their first lead of the game.

The Aggies made just two of 16 triples but poured it on from two-point range, making 26 of of 35 shots and making 28 free throws to the Wildcats’ 13. Leading 39-37 at the half, Villanova raced out to a double digit lead behind an 8-1 run, forcing a Utah State timeout just 2:09 into the second half.

The Aggies went on to score 48 points in the final 18 minutes and raced back into the game, scoring the tying bucket less than four minutes later. Mason Falslev put them ahead 59-58 with 11:21 to play, going on to trade buckets with Tyler Perkins and Lindsay in a back-and-forth stretch. In a game of runs, it was Utah State who strung together the final, fateful span that sent Villanova packing after a 24-9 season.