No. 18 Xavier Unable to Hold Off No. 23 Villanova, Falling 71-58 on the Road

Tuesday, December 21

Villanova, Pa.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

11-2,1-1Big East

Villanova

8-4,1-1Big East

Xavier

Villanova

No. 18 Xavier Unable to Hold Off No. 23 Villanova, Falling 71-58 on the Road

12.21.21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photos Box Score

Dwon Odom leads Musketeers with 13 points as Musketeers move to 11-2

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

VILLANOVA, Pa. - No. 18 Xavier used hot outside shooting to take a lead into halftime but were unable to hold off a strong second-half effort from No. 23 Villanova, falling 71-58 at Finnernan Pavilion on Tuesday evening.

Dwon Odom led Xavier with 13 points, shooting 75 percent from the floor and Nate Johnson added 13 after connecting on his first three outside shots of the game to help the Musketeers lead by as many as 10 in the first half. Villanova was able to chip away at the eight-point Xavier halftime lead in the second half to take the win, moving the Musketeers to 11-2 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play. The Wildcats move to 8-4 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play.

FIRST HALF

Nate Johnson started the scoring with a three, the Musketeers held a one- possession lead through the first four minutes of the game.
Villanova took its first lead of the game, and only of the first half, at the 15:15 mark, before back-to-back Xavier threes put Xavier back up four, 13-9.
The Wildcats would get as close at one over the next five minutes but Xavier connected on its first six threes of the game to go up by as much as 10, 30-20, in the first half.
The two teams traded 6-0 runs but the Musketeers maintained at least four point lead for the remainder of the half, going into the break up eight, 38-30.
Nate Johnson went 4-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three to lead the Musketeers with 11 points.
Dwon Odom added seven for the Musketeers and Zach Freemantle added six.
Xavier shot 52 percent from the floor (13-25) and went 6-of-9 from three,while Villanova shot 44.8 percent from the floor (13-29) but just 1-of-10 from three in the first half.
Xavier held a 16-12 advantage on the boards int he first half, led by four for Paul Scruggs.

SECOND HALF

Villanova opened up the second half with a 12-3 run to erase Xavier's lead and take a 42-41 advantage with 14 minute remaining, the first time the Musketeers had trailed since the 14:49 mark.
The two teams traded leads over the next ten minutes, with the lead changing six times during that stretch, before an 8-0 Villanova run gave the Wildcats a six point lead, 57-51, with four minute remaining.
Back-to-back Xavier baskets pulled the Musketeers within two, but eight straight VU points pushed the lead out 10, 65-55, with under two minutes remaining.
Xavier would get as close as eight in the final minute but four Villanova free throws in the final 30 seconds would set the final advantage at 13, 71-58, in favor of the Wildcats.
Dwon Odom went 3-of-4 from the floor for a team-high six points in the second half.
Xavier was limited to just under 30 percent shooting from the floor and were unable to connect on a three in the second half. The Wildcats shot just over 53 percent from the floor and 5-of-11 from outside.
The Wildcats had a 19-16 advantage on the boards in the second half. Colby Jones led the Musketeers with five rebounds.

NOTABLES

Dwon Odom led the Musketeers in scoring for a second-straight game, finishing with 13 points after going 6-of-8 from the floor.
Nate Johnson finished with 12 points after leading the Musketeers with 11 points in the first half.
Adam Kunkel added nine points for the Musketeers.
Colby Jones led Xavier with eight rebounds and the Musketeers finished with a 32-31 advantage on the boards overall.
Xavier built its lead in the first half by connecting on its first six threes but did not make a three in the final 25 minutes of the game. Villanova finished with a 40-22 advantage on points in the paint.

UP NEXT

The Musketeers have a week off before returning home to host UConn on Tuesday, December 28 at Cintas Center. Tip-off with the Huskies is set for 7:00 p.m. on FS1.

HIGHLIGHTS