Georgetown Stuns Villanova, Advances to Big East Semifinals

Hoyas pull away late to defeat third-seeded Wildcats and set up matchup with UConn

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:49am

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The 11th-seeded Georgetown Hoyas pulled off a surprise 78-64 victory over third-seeded Villanova in the Big East tournament quarterfinals. Julius Halaifonua led the way for Georgetown with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Jeremiah Williams and Kayvaun Mulready each added 14 points. The Hoyas will now face second-seeded and 6th-ranked UConn in the semifinals after the Huskies routed Xavier 93-68 earlier in the day.

Why it matters

This win marks the first time Georgetown has reached the Big East semifinals since their surprise run to the 2021 conference tournament title as an 8-seed. The Hoyas' upset of Villanova, a perennial Big East power, shows they have the potential to make another deep postseason run and potentially earn an NCAA Tournament bid despite their sub-.500 regular season record.

The details

Georgetown pulled away late in the second half, going on an 8-0 run to take a double-digit lead. Villanova was led by Duke Brennan's 14 points and 6 rebounds, but star freshman Acaden Lewis and sixth man Devin Askew combined for just 12 points on 5-of-21 shooting. The loss ends Villanova's bid to reach the Big East semifinals for the first time since winning the conference title in 2022, Jay Wright's final season as head coach.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 13, 2026 in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.

The players

Julius Halaifonua

A Georgetown player who led the Hoyas with 21 points and 10 rebounds, recording his first career double-double.

Jeremiah Williams

A Georgetown player who scored 14 points in the win over Villanova.

Kayvaun Mulready

A Georgetown player who also scored 14 points, including 8 straight points that helped the Hoyas pull away late.

Duke Brennan

A Villanova player who led the Wildcats with 14 points and 6 rebounds in the loss.

Acaden Lewis

A Villanova freshman who struggled, scoring just 6 points on 2-of-10 shooting.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Georgetown will face second-seeded and 6th-ranked UConn in the Big East tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This win shows that Georgetown has the potential to make another deep postseason run, even after a sub-.500 regular season. The Hoyas' upset of perennial Big East power Villanova proves they should not be overlooked as a potential NCAA Tournament team.