Villanova’s rally falls short in road clash with Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. — On a frigid night in East Lansing, Villanova got hot at the right time but fell just short.

Villanova trailed Michigan State by as many as 16 points with just over eight minutes to play on Friday night at the Breslin Center but cut the lead to one with 49 seconds to go. When Tyson Walker missed the back end of two free throw attempts, Villanova had the ball and seven seconds to score.

In the end, all the Wildcats could muster was an Eric Dixon heave from well beyond the arc. When his attempt rattled out, the Wildcats lost, 73-71.

Dixon led the Wildcats with 24 points and nine rebounds. The Wildcats (2-2) struggled to find a second option for much of the night, but graduate forward Brandon Slater scored 16, including several late buckets. Fellow graduate student Caleb Daniels’ shooting was as cold as the Michigan snow, yet he still managed 13 points, making just four of 14 attempts from the field, including one of the eight threes he took.

“I don’t know if God could cover [Dixon] at times,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said.

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For Michigan State (3-1), Coatesville’s own AJ Hoggard was one of four Spartans in double figures. Hoggard, who played two years at Archbishop Carroll, finished two rebounds away from a triple-double, with 13 points, 10 assists, and eight boards. Walker led all Spartans with 22 points.

Neither team came out firing, as the teams were tied, 11-11 after 10 minutes. The Wildcats briefly led, but Hoggard and Walker made three consecutive threes to give Michigan State a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

For Villanova, its three-point shooting woes continued. The Wildcats made 15% of their threes in the first half and 28% on the day. Worse, they consistently left Michigan State open beyond the arc, allowing the Spartans to make 13 of 25 attempts.

However, everything changed at the eight-minute mark. The Wildcats’ run was sparked by threes from freshman Brendan Hausen and Daniels, and when Longino hit his triple, Villanova was within striking distance. While Dixon couldn’t hit the winner, Villanova coach Kyle Neptune was proud of his team’s spirit.

“I think a lot of teams in that situation, on the road, tough environment, would have just said ‘All right, well, I guess we’re just out of it,’ and not show the resolve that our guys did,” Neptune said. “Like I said, credit to them. They didn’t quit, and this kept coming. We told them after the game that that mentality is special.”

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With a chance to steal the game at the buzzer, Neptune’s play call was simple.

“A play to score,” Neptune said.

He later said the play had several different options. It wasn’t necessarily designed for a three, as his team would have taken a two if the Spartans’ defense had allowed it.

“We were just trying to get a play for [Slater] or Caleb,” Dixon said. “Our two best guys. We trust those guys, love those guys. I just happened to be on the floor, and he hit me. That’s what we got. But we would’ve been fine with any of us shooting the ball.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Villanova, as it travels to Portland, Ore., for the PK Invitational. The Wildcats open with Iowa State (2-0) on Thursday (3:30 p.m., ESPN2) before playing No. 1 North Carolina or Portland on Friday.

Tyree Appleby scored 23 points for the second straight game, Damari Monsanto had four three-pointers and 14 points, and Wake Forest (4-0) beat La Salle, 75-63, at the Jamaica Classic in Montego Bay. Josh Nickelberry led La Salle (2-2) with six three-pointers and 24 points. Fousseyni Drame had eight points and nine rebounds. Khalil Brantley, averaging 17 points per game, was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Lamar Oden Jr.’s 13 points and 10 rebounds helped Drexel defeat visiting Arcadia, 85-45. Kobe Magee scored 12 points while shooting 6 for 10 with five rebounds, and Coletrane Washington recorded 11 points for the Dragons (2-1). Jalen Watkins finished with 14 points and Justin Money scored 13 for Arcadia (2-2).

Erik Stevenson scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half and West Virginia (4-0) used a fast start to beat visiting Penn, 92-58. Clark Slajchert led Penn (1-4) with 20 points.