Utah State Upsets Villanova in 8 vs. 9 March Madness Matchup

Aggies' high-powered offense too much for Wildcats in West Region first-round game

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:40pm

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The No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies defeated the No. 8 seed Villanova Wildcats in a closely contested first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Utah State's high-octane offense, led by seniors MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falsev, proved too much for Villanova's more balanced but less explosive attack.

Why it matters

This result continues a recent trend of No. 9 seeds upsetting No. 8 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, as lower-seeded teams have won five of the last eight 8-9 matchups. Utah State's victory also dashes Villanova's hopes of potentially facing No. 1 seed Arizona in the second round, as the Aggies advance to face the Wildcats.

The details

Utah State jumped out to an early lead behind the sharpshooting of Collins and Falsev, who combined for 33 first-half points. Villanova fought back in the second half, but the Aggies' defensive pressure and ability to get to the free-throw line proved to be the difference. Collins finished with a game-high 22 points, while Falsev added 18 points and 6 rebounds. Villanova was led by junior guard Tyler Perkins' 17 points, but the Wildcats struggled to find consistent scoring outside of Perkins and senior forward Duke Brennan.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 20 in San Diego, California.
  • Utah State won the Mountain West Conference Tournament title on March 11, 2026.

The players

MJ Collins Jr.

A senior guard for Utah State, Collins transferred from Vanderbilt and has been a key offensive catalyst for the Aggies all season.

Mason Falsev

The junior guard for Utah State is the team's leading scorer and one of the top 3-point shooters in the Mountain West Conference.

Tyler Perkins

A junior guard for Villanova, Perkins was the Wildcats' leading scorer in the loss to Utah State.

Duke Brennan

The senior forward for Villanova was a force on the boards, but the Wildcats struggled to generate consistent offense outside of Perkins and Brennan.

Kevin Willard

The head coach of Villanova, Willard is in his second season with the Wildcats after previously leading Maryland to the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out and set the tone early against a tough Villanova team. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan and making shots when it mattered most.”

— Jerrod Calhoun, Head Coach, Utah State

“Villanova just couldn't match Utah State's firepower today. We fought hard, but their guards were too much for us to handle.”

— Kevin Willard, Head Coach, Villanova

What’s next

Utah State will face No. 1 seed Arizona in the second round of the West Region on Sunday, March 22.

The takeaway

This result underscores the unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament, where lower-seeded teams like Utah State can pull off upsets against more highly-touted programs like Villanova. The Aggies' dynamic backcourt duo of Collins and Falsev proved to be the difference, showcasing the offensive firepower that can make them a dangerous March Madness Cinderella.