Dixon’s 34 points lead Villanova past Butler 80-70

VILLANOVA, Pa. — Dominating the court with a remarkable performance, Eric Dixon scored a career-high 34 points, pushing Villanova to triumph over Butler with an 80-70 victory on Saturday.

Dixon not only led the scoring for the Wildcats but also contributed significantly on the boards with seven rebounds, enhancing Villanova’s standing to 18-12 overall and 11-8 in the Big East Conference. Support came from Jordan Longino, who added 14 points, shooting impressively at 4 of 8, with a notable 4 of 6 from three-point range. Despite struggling from the field, Wooga Poplar managed to contribute 12 points, shooting 4 for 16 and 2 for 10 from beyond the arc.

On the other side, Finley Bizjack led the charge for the Bulldogs, as Butler fell to 13-16 overall and 6-12 in conference plays. Bizjack scored 16 points and provided four assists, proving to be pivotal in moments for the Bulldogs. Jahmyl Telfort also scored impressive 16 points while adding two crucial blocks, contributing significantly to Butler’s standings. Pierre Brooks rounded out the top performances for Butler with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Villanova established their dominance early in the game, entering the break with a 43-35 advantage powered by Dixon’s 16 points in the first half. The Wildcats maintained their momentum post-halftime, embarking on a decisive 15-3 run that stretched their lead to 13 points, placing them comfortably ahead at 68-55 with nearly eight minutes to go.

In their upcoming schedule, Villanova is set to face Georgetown on the road this Tuesday, poised to continue their winning streak. Meanwhile, Butler will regroup and prepare to host Xavier on Wednesday in what promises to be a critical matchup for the Bulldogs.