Wildcat Wrap
 
Final Score: Butler 88, Wildcats 81 (double overtime)
 
Overview: The Bulldogs, who trailed throughout regulation, rallied in the final four minutes to forge a 64-64 tie. The two teams were even in the first overtime (72-72) before Butler reclaimed the lead at 80-78 and knocked down its free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the win.
 
"I thought we came out with the mindset and kept battling," stated Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. "It was a tough Big East game. Unfortunately we didn't get the result we wanted."
 
Dixon and D provided early fuel: The Wildcats used an 11-0 spurt over the first 5:41 to grab the early edge. Eric Dixon connected on 4-of-5 field goal attempts in that span and the 'Cats held Butler without a field goal (0-of-7). Butler didn't score until Posh Alexander notched a drive to the basket with a bit more than 14 minutes to play in the first period.
 
Butler began to get untracked offensively midway through the first half with Alexander leading the way. The Bulldogs shaved the VU lead to 19-11 with 7:57 to play until halftime. Dixon had 11 of the 'Cats 19 points at that juncture.
 
Hakim Hart and Jordan Longino offered an offensive boost, each scoring on a post-up move and adding a free throw after they were fouled. The second 3-pointer of the first half from Butler's Pierre Brooks narrowed the lead to 29-21 with three minutes on the first half clock.
 
A terrific end to the period from Mark Armstrong – the sophomore contributed four points, a steal, and took a charge – helped Nova claim a 36-27 lead at the break.
 
Dixon's 14 points led all scorers in the first 20 minutes.
 
Inside the Numbers: Villanova connected on 16-of-28 first half field goals. It was 15-of-20 inside the arc and 1-of-8 from beyond it.
 
The Wildcats owned a 16-10 edge on the backboards with Tyler Burton hauling in six caroms in the period. Jahmyl Telfort paced Butler with 10 points.
 
However, Butler turned the tables over the final 30 minutes on the glass. It outrebounded VU 33-17 and enjoyed a 10-2 advantage in second chance points for the contest.
 
After Intermission: The Wildcats scored the first four points of the second half and expanded their lead to 40-27 less than two minutes into the session. However, Butler responded with a 6-0 surge, forcing a Villanova timeout with 16:25 to play in the second half.
 
Butler held VU without a field goal for 7:19 before a Burton basket ended the drought, giving the 'Cats a 43-35 edge.
 
A pair of 3-pointers from Dixon and a driving dunk by Justin Moore pushed the Wildcats lead up to 52-40 ahead of a Bulldogs timeout with 7:24 on the clock. A 3-pointer by DJ Davis narrowed the Villanova edge to 59-51 at the 4:18 mark of the second half. When Telfort dropped in a 3-point basket just ahead of a shot clock violation, the lead was down to 59-54 with 3:04 left.
 
Hakim Hart dropped in a corner 3-pointer for Villanova before Davis sank another for the Bulldogs, making it 62-57. Brooks then scored on a drive to the goal to cut the edge to 62-59 before a short Dixon jumper made it 64-59. Davis answered with his fifth 3-pointer to shave the lead to 64-62 with 59.3 seconds to play.
 
After a Dixon miss, Butler got the ball to Telfort, who scored on a dunk with 5.2 seconds left to knot the game at 64. Following a series of Butler common fouls – it was not yet in the penalty – Moore got off a shot from inside half-court that missed, sending this one to overtime.
 
Extra Time: A Davis basket nearly a minute to the extra session gave Butler its first lead of the day at 66-64. Dixon responded with a Nova basket and was fouled in the process, adding a free throw to make it 67-66.
 
TJ Bamba scored on a reverse layup and then added a 3-pointer while Davis twice scored two-point buckets for Butler. That gave Nova a 72-70 lead with 90 seconds left in overtime. Villanova then misfired on its 3-point attempt and Telfort collected the rebound, setting up another end of game situation with 21.2 seconds on the clock.
 
Davis then scored a bucket with 5.7 seconds left to tie it at 72, which is where it stood when the horn sounded to end the first overtime.
 
A Bamba drive put the 'Cats up 74-72 but Butler got a second chance bucket off an offensive rebound to tie it at 74. A Hart drive for two made it 76-74 in Villanova's favor with 2:50 to play in the period.
 
Butler scored four straight points to take an 80-78 lead with 41.1 seconds left in the second extra session. A Villanova turnover gave the Bulldogs the ball back with 30.0 seconds on the clock. The Bulldogs made their free throws in the final 30 seconds and emerged with the 88-81 win.

What They Said: Neptune on Butler's scoring in the final minutes of regulation and the two overtime periods: "They've got good players over there. They got out in transition a little bit and got Davis going downhill. He made some tough shots."