Men's Basketball Falls at Villanova on Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, February 9

Philadelphia, Pa.

12 p.m.

Xavier University

14-10,6-7Big East

Villanova

14-10,7-6Big East

Xavier

Villanova

Men's Basketball Falls at Villanova on Sunday Afternoon

02.09.25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photos

Dante Maddox Jr.'s 24 points lead three Musketeers in double figures

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

PHILADELPHIA - Dante Maddox Jr. scored a season-high 24 points to lead three Musketeers in double figures, but Xavier fell, 80-68, to Villanova at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Musketeers moved to 14-10 (6-7 BIG EAST), while the Wildcats improved to 14-10 (7-6 BIG EAST).

Xavier remains on the road for its next match-up, traveling to Providence on Wednesday, February 12. The Musketeers and the Friars are set for an 8 p.m. tip on Peacock.

NOTABLE

After Xavier scored the opening basket, the team traded buckets for the first 10 minutes of the half, with neither team leading by more than one possession until Villanova used a 7-2 run to take a four-point lead with nine minutes left in the first half. The Wildcats stayed in front until the Musketeers went on an 8-0 run, featuring six points from Dante Maddox Jr., to give Xavier the 28-23 lead, the largest for either team in the first half. VU responded with a 6-0 run, and the teams traded baskets down the stretch to go into halftime tied, 33-33. Dante Maddox Jr. led the Musketeers with 13 first half points.
Villanova took the lead early in the second half, going ahead by six in the first four minutes after the break, when Xavier put together a 15-3 run to retake the lead, going ahead by as many as six, 52-46, Xavier's largest lead of the game. The Wildcats responded with an 8-0 run to move back in front and did not trail for the remainder of the game, leading by as many as 16 before winning by 12, 80-68.
Dante Maddox Jr. finished with a game-high matching 24 points, a new season high, after going 7-of-10 from the floor, including connecting on 4-of-6 from three. Maddox Jr. also grabbed five rebounds and had three assists.
Zach Freemantle finished with 18 points and grabbed five boards.
Marcus Foster added 10 points for the Musketeers and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Xavier finished with a 30-27 advantage on the board, including an 8-6 advantage on the offensive glass, but the Wildcats outscored the Musketeers 14-9 on second-chance points.
Xavier connected on 49.1 percent (26-53) of its field goals, and 42.1 percent (8-19) from three. Villanova shot 50.9 percent (29-57) overall, and 50 percent (12-24) from outside.
The Musketeers committed 14 turnovers to just eight for the Wildcats, but both teams finished with eight points off miscues.