NCAA News Wire
Villanova 94, Marquette 85 (OT)
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
MILWAUKEE — Guard James Bell scored 30 points and junior guard Darrun Hilliard added 20 as No. 4 Villanova snapped Marquette’s 20-game home conference winning streak with a 94-85 overtime victory over the Golden Eagles Saturday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Wildcats (17-2, 6-1 Big East) had led by as many as nine points in the second half and allowed Marquette no closer than four on three separate occasions over the final minutes. But they struggled to make free throws, missing five of seven before guard Ryan Arcidiacono sank a pair to make it 75-71 with 22 seconds to play.
Marquette guard Todd Mayo answered with a 3-pointer to make it 75-74 before Arcidiacono made two more from the line. But he then fouled Mayo on a 3-point attempt with 4.8 seconds left.
Mayo hit all three free throws, tying the game. Tony Chennault drove the length of the court and appeared to score with 0.2 on the clock, but he was called for a charge against Marquette’s Steve Taylor, sending the game to overtime.
The Golden Eagles’ momentum ran out in the extra session. Villanova scored five quick points and led by as many as seven while Marquette missed three of its first four shots.
Center Davante Gardner went 9 of 16 from the field and 11 of 14 from the free-throw line to lead Marquette with 29 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
Mayo finished with 18 points and Wilson added 16 for the Golden Eagles, who shot 50 percent for the game but were 2 of 11 from beyond the arc.
Marquette scored 24 of 31 points from the paint in the first half but went into the locker room down seven to the Wildcats, who went 7-for-17 from beyond the arc.
Bell hit three 3-pointers and had 15 points at the half.
Arcidiacono finished with 20 points.
NOTES: The game was the first of a three-game road trip for Villanova, which is 5-1 in road games this season. … The Golden Eagles had won 20 consecutive Big East conference games at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Their last conference loss in Milwaukee came March 2, 2011 against Cincinnati. … Villanova hadn’t won in Milwaukee since Jan. 1, 2010 and is now 1-4 at Marquette since the Golden Eagles joined the Big East in 2005. … The Golden Eagles began the day with the best scoring defense in the Big East, giving up 64.0 points per game, while holding opponents to 39.5 percent from the field — the second-best mark in the league.
