Ryan Conwell scored a career-high 34 points and converted a four-point play to highlight a decisive 9-0 run as the Xavier Musketeers rallied for a 69-63 win over the visiting Villanova Wildcats on Tuesday night in Cincinnati.
Conwell, who netted 13 of Xavier’s final 14 points, drained a three with 1:40 remaining while being fouled by Kris Parker. Conwell hit the ensuing free throw to give Xavier (11-7, 3-4 Big East) a 59-58 lead, its first since the 6:24 mark of the first half.
His three on the Musketeers’ next possession helped seal Xavier’s second straight win, as Villanova (11-7, 4-3) got no closer than four points over the final 54 seconds.
Eric Dixon and Jordan Longino had 18 points apiece for the Wildcats, who lost their second straight since upsetting then-No. 9 UConn last Wednesday. Wooga Poplar chipped in 14 points.
Xavier knocked down its first five shots from the field to race ahead 13-4 in the opening six minutes.
But the Musketeers missed nine of their next 10 shots, allowing Villanova to slowly work its way back into the game. The Wildcats took their first lead, 18-16, on the strength of a 14-3 run, capped by a Longino three with 9:41 left in the first half.
Xavier missed 18 of its final 22 shots in the first half, which Villanova closed with a 28-11 run.
The Wildcats nearly executed a full-court heave with 1.8 seconds left in the half when Parker tossed the ball the length of the court to Dixon, who missed a layup. Poplar was there for a putback but it came just after the halftime buzzer, leaving Villanova ahead 32-24 at the break.
The visitors could not finish in close to the basket, missing their first five layup chances of the second half, allowing Xavier to open on a 13-5 run to tie the game, 37-37. Self-inflicted mistakes also hurt Villanova as it committed three shot clock violations, twice dribbling out the possession without getting up a shot.
Enoch Boakye’s dunk put the Wildcats up 58-55 with 1:51 left before Conwell responded with his four-point play.
The Wildcats held the Musketeers without a transition basket until Conwell’s three with 4:50 left in the second half closed Xavier within 54-51. The Musketeers entered the game leading the Big East and were ranked sixth in the nation in fastbreak points with 17.7 points a game.
–Field Level Media
