Wildcats Break Omaha Drought, Snap Four-Game Skid Against Creighton

Villanova dominates the paint and forces turnovers to defeat Creighton in Big East matchup.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Villanova snapped its four-game losing streak against Creighton with an 80-69 road victory on Saturday. The Wildcats jumped out to an early 25-10 lead and controlled the game, led by double-doubles from Duke Brennan and Tyler Perkins. Creighton was led by Nik Graves' 15 points and 5 assists, but the Bluejays struggled to match Villanova's efficiency and physicality inside.

Why it matters

This was Villanova's first road win in Omaha since 2023, ending Creighton's recent dominance in the rivalry between the Big East's two winningest programs. The loss drops Creighton to 7-8 in conference play, putting them in a tight race for postseason positioning in the crowded Big East standings.

The details

Villanova's frontcourt duo of Duke Brennan (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Tyler Perkins (17 points, 11 rebounds) set the tone, as the Wildcats controlled the paint and forced 12 Creighton turnovers. Creighton was led by Nik Graves' 15 points and 5 assists, but the Bluejays shot just 42% from the field and struggled to match Villanova's efficiency at the free throw line (74% vs 58%).

  • Villanova jumped out to a 25-10 lead early in the game.

The players

Duke Brennan

A Villanova forward who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Tyler Perkins

A Villanova forward who also had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Nik Graves

A Creighton guard who led the Bluejays with 15 points and 5 assists.

Jasen Green

A Creighton forward who grabbed 11 rebounds to keep the Bluejays competitive on the glass.

Acaden Lewish

A Villanova guard who dished out 4 assists in 35 minutes of play.

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What’s next

Creighton will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they travel to face No. 6 UConn, the same team that handed them an 85-58 loss earlier this season.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the continued strength of the Villanova program, as they snapped a four-game losing streak against their Big East rival Creighton. For Creighton, the loss puts them in a tight race in the middle of the crowded Big East standings, making every remaining game crucial as they fight for postseason positioning.