Box Score Overview
 
Villanova battled No. 2 Connecticut throughout the afternoon but fell just a bit short of the upset, falling 75-67 in overtime at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford Saturday. The Wildcats got a 3-pointer from Tyler Perkins on the first possession of the extra period but were unable to stem a late rush from the Huskies, who finished the game on an 8-0 run after the contest was tied at 67.
 
Solo Ball led all scorers with 24 points.
 
"I thought we did some really good things defensively to keep them off balance," said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard. "Give them credit: Solo Ball played great."
 
Perkins (16 points and 10 rebounds) and Duke Brennan (16 points and 14 boards) each delivered double-doubles for the Wildcats. Villanova persevered despite shooting just 20-of-59 on the day (.339).
 
A few mistakes in key moments proved costly in the bid for an upset.
 
"That's all-right," Willard said. "We're a young team. Guys were trying to make plays. I thought we had a chance to make some plays at the rim that we weren't able to make."
 
Matt Provided an Early Boost
 
Matt Hodge drained a pair of 3-pointers and Villanova's defense held the Huskies without a point for the first 3:13 to help build an 8-0 lead. UConn, though, bounced back with five straight points of its own to close the gap to 8-5 at the first official timeout of the afternoon 4:01 into the contest.
 
Graduate transfer guard Devin Askew helped lift the Wildcats out of a scoring drought and allowed them to re-take the lead 1t 13-11 after UConn momentarily grabbed a one-point advantage. The Huskies did damage with short jumpers and in the lane, scoring six of those points in the lane.
 
D Was Dialed In
 
The 'Cats limited the Huskies to 6-of-17 shooting midway through the period, allowing it to take an 18-15 lead. They were also boosted by sinking 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, including one from Tyler Perkins.
 
When Brennan dropped in a pair of free throws, the Wildcats held a 23-17 edge. The Huskies, however, showed how dangerous they can be in transition, reeling off five quick points to close the gap to 23-22 at the 3:40 mark of the first half.
 
Each time the Huskies closed the margin – such as when Ball sank a 3-pointer from the left wing to close to within 28-27 – Villanova offered a response. In this case it was a corner 3-pointer from the left side by sophomore Malachi Palmer that lifted the Wildcats to a 31-27 lead at the break.
 
Defense did the heavy lifting in that equation. The 'Cats held UConn to 10-of-30 shooting from the field over the first 20 minutes (.333), including 3-of-11 from long distance (.273).
 
Askew paced VU with eight first half points while Brennan contributed seven points and six boards. Ball led all scorers with 10 points.
 
After Intermission
 
The Huskies sandwiched two 3-pointers – one by Ball and another by Braylon Mullins – around an Acaden Lewis basket to deadlock matters at 33. Lewis then found Brennan for a short runner to put the Wildcats back on top, 35-33.
 
A short while later a technical foul was assessed to UConn head coach Dan Hurley. Askew drained those two free throws and Lewis immediately followed with two more to give VU a 39-33 lead.
 
However, Ball played a central role in a 7-0 burst that pushed UConn on top at 40-39. His triple gave the Huskies the lead back at the 12:13 mark of the second half. It became a 42-39 lead for UConn before Hodge drained a 3-pointer that was followed by another by Askew to put VU up, 45-42.
 
With 7:59 to play in the period, the VU lead was 48-46. A Tavarris Reed Jr. score inside tied it at 48 before Perkins scored to push the 'Cats back in front. Brennan then picked up his fourth foul on a Reed attempt to score. Alex Karaban then scored on a drive to his right to tie it at 50 with just under six minutes to play in regulation.
 
Another Perkins bucket gave Villanova the lead back at 52-50 before Ball sank three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt to lift UConn on top. A Brennan basket made it 54-53 in favor of the 'Cats before a Karaban triple gave the Huskies the advantage, 56-54.
 
A pair of Perkins free throws tied it at 56 with 3:54 on the clock.
 
A traditional 3-point play from Karaban gave UConn a 59-56 lead. But the Wildcats fought their way to a 61-59 advantage after Hodge's fourth triple of the day. UConn scored on its next possession and those were the final points of the period.
 
Extra Time
 
After winning the tip, the Wildcats executed a perfect screen a 3-pointer by Perkins to move on top, 64-61. On the Huskies' next possession, Bryce Lindsay drew a charge. UConn then forced a turnover and scored in transition to narrow the margin to 64-63.
Karaban was then fouled on a drive to the goal and sank a free throw to tie it at 64 with less than three minutes remaining in the extra session.
 
A Brennan free throw put Nova back on top, but Ball drained a left wing 3-pointer to make it 67-65. Two more Brennan free throws on the next possession tied it at 67. There was 1:43 left in the overtime.
 
Karaban sank two UConn free throws to make it 69-67. The Huskies then created a steal as the clock ticked below one minute to play. Silas Demary Jr. then scored on a drive to make it 71-67 in UConn's favor with 45 second left.
 
In the end the Wildcats could not get the score they needed and the Huskies sank free throws late to make the final count 75-67.
 
What They Said
 
Brennan: "It hurts. That's a great team over there. We fought to the end. It's a tough one. It feels like it got away."