Villanova Surges Past Butler Behind Lewis' 20 Points

Devin Askew scores 16 in the second half to help Wildcats bounce back from loss to UConn

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Acaden Lewis recorded 20 points and Devin Askew scored all 16 of his points in the second half as Villanova topped visiting Butler 82-73 on Wednesday. Bryce Lindsay contributed 19 points to help Villanova (22-6, 13-4 Big East) bounce back from a 10-point loss to No. 5 UConn over the weekend.

Why it matters

This win helps Villanova maintain its position in the Big East standings and shows the team's resilience after a tough loss to a top-ranked opponent. Butler, meanwhile, has now lost five straight matchups against Villanova, including both games this season.

The details

Villanova led by 14 points at halftime, but Butler cut the deficit to 55-54 with nine minutes left. The Wildcats then used an 8-0 run, fueled by two 3-pointers and a driving layup from Askew, to rebuild a double-digit advantage. Butler got within 71-65 late, but Askew hit another 3-pointer to halt the Bulldogs' momentum.

  • Villanova led 27-24 late in the first half before closing the session on a 15-4 run over the final 3 1/2 minutes.
  • Butler trailed by 14 points at intermission before halving its deficit with a quick 7-0 run to begin the second half.

The players

Acaden Lewis

Scored a game-high 20 points for Villanova.

Devin Askew

Scored all 16 of his points in the second half to help Villanova pull away.

Bryce Lindsay

Contributed 19 points to the Villanova win.

Michael Ajayi

Registered 17 points and nine rebounds for Butler.

Yohan Traore

Chipped in with 15 points for Butler.

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The takeaway

Villanova's ability to bounce back from a loss and pull away late against a conference foe demonstrates the team's depth and composure, which will be crucial as they look to make a deep run in the Big East and NCAA tournaments.