National Basketball Association
Villanova 64, Xavier 60
When: 6:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Officials:
# Mike Roberts, # Brian O'Connell, # Bert Smith
Attendance:
10224
By Field Level Media
Collin Gillespie scored 21 points to lift No. 14 Villanova past host Xavier 64-60 Wednesday in Cincinnati.
Justin Moore had 19 points and nine rebounds while Eric Dixon added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (12-4, 5-1 Big East), who won their fifth in a row.
Paul Scruggs and Nate Johnson led No. 17 Xavier (12-3, 2-2) with 15 points each. Colby Jones gathered 10 rebounds for the Musketeers, who lost at home for the first time in 10 games.
After a slow start by both teams, Villanova pulled ahead slightly 13-8 after Moore dropped in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 12:00 remaining in the first half. Dixon scored on consecutive possessions in the low post for a 21-13 Wildcats advantage with 8:51 left.
Jerome Hunter hit 2 of 3 shots to keep the Musketeers close, but they missed 12 of their first 16 shots, including several layups. Gillespie soon came back with a 3-pointer from the corner and a long jumper for a 28-17 lead.
Two free throws each by Dixon and Caleb Daniels along with a jumper by Jordan Longino and the Wildcats extended to a 17-point advantage.
Villanova led 38-27 at halftime, thanks in large part to Gillespie's 14 points. Johnson paced Xavier with eight points. The Musketeers shot just 7 of 25 in the first half.
The Musketeers closed within nine early in the second half, but Gillespie responded with a 3-pointer for a 43-31 advantage. Scruggs then drove to the basket and hit a difficult layup to cut the deficit to 10.
Xavier tightened defensively and sliced Villanova's lead to 45-38 after Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer with 14:11 to go.
Villanova maintained a steady lead, 54-47, with 6:17 remaining. But Scruggs made a 3-pointer with 4:59 remaining and Xavier trailed 54-50.
After a turnover by Villanova, Jack Nunge grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to cap a 10-0 run and close within two.
Scruggs' 3-pointer with 2:17 left tied the game at 56. On Villanova's next possession, Moore converted a three-point play to go back ahead by three.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Villanova |
|
Xavier |
|
Collin Gillespie 21 |
Scoring |
Nate Johnson 15 |
|
Caleb Daniels 2 |
Assists |
Adam Kunkel 4 |
|
Eric Dixon 10 |
Rebounds |
Colby Jones 10 |
|
Justin Moore 7 |
Free Throws Made |
Colby Jones 5 |
|
Caleb Daniels 1 |
Steals |
Paul Scruggs 2 |
|
Eric Dixon 2 |
Blocks |
Colby Jones 2 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Villanova
|
64 |
37.7 |
4-20 |
20-21 |
8 |
39 |
3 |
2 |
13 |
| Xavier
|
60 |
32.7 |
5-24 |
19-24 |
9 |
29 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
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