Eric Dixon leads Villanova past No. 12 Creighton in OT

Field Level Media|published: Wed 20th December, 23:51 2023

Dec 20, 2023; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Eric Dixon (43) scores against Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. credits: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Dixon scored 32 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in overtime, as Villanova overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to earn a 68-66 victory over No. 12 Creighton on Wednesday in the Big East opener for each team at Omaha, Neb.

Hakim Hart scored 10 points off the bench and Tyler Burton added 12 rebounds as Villanova (8-4, 1-0) won its second straight following a three-game losing streak. Villanova was without second-leading scorer Justin Moore for a second consecutive game because of a knee injury.

The Wildcats held the Bluejays without a point over the final 2:33 of regulation then did not give up a field goal over the final 2:26 of overtime. Creighton missed two field-goal attempts and a free throw in the final 13 seconds of overtime.

Trey Alexander scored eight of his 16 points in overtime for Creighton (9-3, 0-1), who lost at home for the first time in seven games this season.

Baylor Scheierman also had 16 points with 11 rebounds for the Bluejays, while Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 14 points with eight rebounds.

Kalkbrenner was 6 of 9 from the floor after missing the last 13 minutes of the first half in a victory Saturday over Alabama because of a sprained ankle and being limited in practice this week.

Dixon gave Villanova a 61-60 lead with 4:14 remaining in overtime with a 3-pointer and hit another with 28 seconds on the clock to put the Wildcats up 68-66.

After holding Villanova to 28.1-percent shooting in the first half, Creighton took a 41-27 lead with 17:05 remaining before Villanova eased back into the game. The Wildcats pulled within a basket at 52-50 with 8:32 remaining after an 11-3 run was capped by a layup from Hart, then got even at 56-56 on a Jordan Longino basket with 4:06 remaining.

With the score tied 58-58, Creighton had two chances to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation but Scheierman missed a rushed turnaround jumper with six seconds remaining and Alexander forced up a wild shot from the lane just before the buzzer.

The Bluejays were 0 of 3 with a missed free throw in the final 1:47 of regulation.

Creighton retired the jersey of former star Doug McDermott (2010-14) before the game.

—Field Level Media