Villanova defeats DePaul 71-66

Villanova Edges DePaul in Thrilling Conference Showdown

In a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams battle for every basket, the Villanova Wildcats emerged victorious with a 71-66 win over the visiting DePaul Blue Devils at Finneran Pavilion on New Year's Eve.

The game was a classic example of an up-and-down affair, with Villanova trailing by as few as four points at halftime. However, the Wildcats came out strong in the second half, using a combination of clutch shooting and stifling defense to build a 9-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game from the start," said Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "DePaul is a great team that can make plays on both ends of the floor."

That statement proved true, as DePaul's CJ Gunn got hot in the second half, scoring 10 points to help his team stay within striking distance. However, it was not enough to overcome the Wildcats' balanced attack.

For Villanova, Bryce Lindsay led the way with 19 points on 5-for-10 three-point shooting. Duke Brennan added 12 rebounds and 9 points, while Tyler Perkins chipped in with 3 assists and 19 points of his own.

"I thought our guys did a great job of rotating and making plays on both ends," Wright said. "We knew DePaul was going to try to get hot, so we had to stay focused."

DePaul, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-for-3 three-pointers. However, CJ Gunn's scoring outburst helped his team stay in the game.

"We knew we had to make some adjustments at halftime," DePaul head coach Luke Yaklich said. "We couldn't get our shot going, so we tried to be more aggressive on the glass and wear them down."

In the end, it was Villanova's defense that proved to be the difference-maker. The Wildcats held DePaul to just 26% three-point shooting, limiting the Blue Devils' scoring opportunities.

The win marked a significant boost for Villanova in conference play, as they move to 10-5 on the season. For DePaul, it was a tough loss, but one that provided valuable experience for the young team.

"We'll learn from this and come back stronger," Yaklich said. "We're proud of our guys for battling all game long."

The Wildcats will look to continue their momentum next week, while DePaul heads back to campus with a renewed sense of purpose.