CINCINNATI — In an impressive display of skill, Ryan Conwell fueled the Xavier Musketeers to a 69-63 victory over the Villanova Wildcats on Tuesday night, scoring 34 points in total, with a remarkable 16 of those points coming in the last five minutes of the contest.

Conwell’s performance peaked when he executed a four-point play with just 1 minute and 40 seconds left on the clock, which allowed Xavier to take a narrow 59-58 lead. This pivotal play sparked a personal run of 9-0 for Conwell, who also successfully sank four consecutive free throws in the final 20 seconds to help seal the win.

Conwell showcased his shooting prowess throughout the game, making 8 of 13 attempts from the field, including 6 out of 10 from beyond the arc. He also impressed at the charity stripe, converting 12 of his 14 free-throw attempts. Alongside Conwell, Zach Freemantle contributed significantly with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Dayvion McKnight added another 10 points to the scoreboard.

For the visiting Wildcats, both Eric Dixon and Jordan Longino were key contributors, each scoring 18 points. Wooga Poplar also made his mark, adding 14 points to the team’s efforts along with two steals.

Xavier struggled in the first half, going into halftime being outscored 32-24, with Freemantle accounting for seven points during that period.

The Musketeers will next face a significant challenge as they prepare to go on the road against the seventh-ranked Marquette this coming Saturday. Meanwhile, Villanova is set to host Providence on Friday, looking to bounce back from this defeat.