Eric Dixon drained back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half and scored a game-high 31 points to lead the host Villanova Wildcats to a 68-60 upset over the No. 14 Cincinnati Bearcats on Tuesday night outside Philadelphia.
Dixon recorded his third 30-point game for Villanova (5-4), which won consecutive games for the first time this season. The Wildcats blew out Rider 72-48 on Nov. 27.
Wooga Poplar added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Jhamir Brickus chipped in with 13 points and nine assists for Villanova, which won the first meeting between the former Big East rivals since 2013.
Enoch Boakye had four of the Wildcats’ six blocks.
Jizzle James led the Bearcats (6-1) with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds, while Simas Lukosius added 13 points.
Cincinnati drew to within 55-49 when Day Day Thomas knocked down one of two free throws with 3:54 left. But Dixon nailed 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give Villanova a 61-49 lead with 2:53 remaining.
Villanova built a 24-13 lead midway through the first half thanks to smothering defense. The Bearcats managed just 41.9 percent from the field and a mere 2 of 9 on 3-pointers.
Trailing 28-19, Cincinnati went on a 9-4 spurt before Brickus drained a long trey at the buzzer to give Villanova a 37-28 halftime lead.
Cincinnati didn’t attempt a free throw until Lukosius sank a pair with 13:43 remaining in the second half. The Bearcats were held to a season-low 38.3 percent from the field, while Villanova finished at 49 percent.
Cincinnati finished at 6-for-11 from the free-throw line, while Villanova went 14-for-17.
The Wildcats held the lead for almost 37 minutes. They will face area-rival Temple on Saturday in the Big 5 Classic in Philadelphia. Cincinnati returns home Sunday to meet Howard. It will be the first of four straight home games.
–Field Level Media
