Villanova defeats Xavier in overtime thriller

Acaden Lewis leads Wildcats to road victory with clutch performance

Feb. 21, 2026 at 1:31pm

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Villanova guard Acaden Lewis scored 21 points, including 5 in overtime, to lead the Wildcats to a 92-89 victory over Xavier on Tuesday night. Lewis also contributed 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the hard-fought road win.

Why it matters

This was an important Big East conference matchup between two top teams, with Villanova proving its mettle as a road warrior by rallying to win in overtime against a tough Xavier squad.

The details

Acaden Lewis was the driving force for Villanova, scoring 21 points and making key plays down the stretch to will his team to victory. The game was tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to pull away until Villanova made the necessary plays in overtime to secure the win.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Acaden Lewis

A guard for the Villanova Wildcats who led his team to an overtime victory against Xavier with a clutch 21-point performance.

Villanova Wildcats

The men's basketball team from Villanova University, who earned a hard-fought road win against a tough Xavier squad.

Xavier

The men's basketball team from Xavier University, who battled Villanova closely but ultimately fell in overtime.

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The takeaway

Villanova's ability to win a close, physical road game against a quality opponent like Xavier demonstrates the team's toughness and resilience, which will serve them well as they continue their quest for a Big East title and potential NCAA Tournament berth.