Villanova Sweeps Seton Hall in Men's Basketball

Wildcats win second straight game against Pirates, 72-60

Feb. 5, 2026 at 12:07am

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The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 72-60 in men's basketball, sweeping the season series between the two Big East Conference teams. Tyler Perkins led the Wildcats with 18 points and 5 rebounds, while Malachi Palmer added a career-high 15 points off the bench.

Why it matters

The win gives Villanova a season sweep over Seton Hall and keeps them in the hunt for a top spot in the Big East standings. For Seton Hall, the loss is a setback in their quest to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

The details

Villanova started slow in the first half but regrouped after a media timeout, taking a 40-25 lead into halftime. The Wildcats extended their advantage to 20 points in the second half before Seton Hall made a late push to trim the final margin to 12 points. Villanova's defense was effective in limiting Seton Hall's leading scorer Tajuan Simpkins.

  • Villanova defeated Seton Hall 64-56 earlier this season in Newark, New Jersey.
  • The rematch took place on Wednesday, February 5, 2026 at Villanova's Finneran Pavilion.

The players

Tyler Perkins

Villanova's leading scorer with 18 points and 5 rebounds.

Malachi Palmer

Villanova reserve who scored a career-high 15 points off the bench.

Kevin Willard

Villanova's head coach who praised his team's defensive effort in limiting Seton Hall's top scorer.

Shaheen Holloway

Seton Hall's head coach who said his team will learn from this loss and prepare for their next game against Creighton.

Tajuan Simpkins

Seton Hall's leading scorer who was held in check by Villanova's defense.

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What they’re saying

“Seton Hall is an excellent defensive team. We knew we needed to take away Tajuan Simpkins, who had really been a valuable piece for the Pirates over the last two games.”

— Kevin Willard, Villanova Head Coach

“That's why I brought him here to Villanova. He continues to develop his craft, and now it's paying off.”

— Kevin Willard, Villanova Head Coach

“I know I can have an impact on the team in many ways. I'm trying every day to improve my offensive and defensive abilities.”

— Tyler Perkins

“Villanova is a great team, and we will learn from this one and get ready for a test against Creighton.”

— Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall Head Coach

What’s next

Villanova will travel to Washington, D.C. to face Georgetown on Saturday, February 8th. Tipoff is set for 12:00 PM on TNT.

The takeaway

Villanova's defensive effort and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Seton Hall, as the Wildcats completed the season sweep of their Big East rival. The win keeps Villanova in contention for a top spot in the conference standings, while Seton Hall will need to regroup and prepare for their next challenge against Creighton.