11/01/2026 11:30:00
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11/01 11:29 CST Notre Dame beats Villanova 74-72 in men's college basketball
season opener in Rome
Notre Dame beats Villanova 74-72 in men's college basketball season opener in
Rome
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
ROME (AP) --- Brady Koehler scored key baskets down the stretch and Notre Dame
made a late comeback after trailing for most of the second half to beat
Villanova 74-72 in the college basketball season opener in Rome on Sunday.
Villanova standout Tyler Perkins fouled out with 16.3 seconds to go. He led the
Wildcats with 18 points.
The event --- dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off --- included an audience with
Villanova alumnus Pope Leo XIV for both teams and their fans on Saturday.
Both teams are unranked in the preseason AP Top 25.
Koehler and Braeden Smith led Notre Dame, which has 10 new players, with 16
points each.
Koehler's dunk cut Villanova's lead to one point with 1:36 remaining and Logan
Duncomb hit a 3-pointer with 1:08 to go to give Notre Dame its first lead of
the second half, 70-68.
Koehler sank two free throws to put the Fighting Irish up 74-70 with 4 seconds
remaining and essentially seal it.
Villanova is looking for a revival after four years without winning a game at
the NCAA Tournament: A three-year absence followed the sudden retirement of
Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and then the Wildcats had a first-round loss to
Utah State last season.
Luigi Suigo, the 7-foot-3 Italian making his Villanova debut on home soil, had
two dunks and showed his range with a 3-pointer to finish with seven points.
When he scored, the arena announcer yelled, "Su-su-su Suigo."
The nonconference game between the two Catholic universities was played at the
11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport, which is located about a half-hour drive from
the Vatican.
Villanova had many more fans in attendance.
It's a doubleheader and a women's game between the two schools was up next.
Up next
Notre Dame faces another Catholic school in its home opener against Mercyhurst
on Thursday.
Villanova faces two more Catholic schools in its next two games: The Wildcats
play Holy Cross in their home opener on Friday and then meet La Salle four days
later.
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