CINCY

NOVA

Eric Dixon scores 31 points, Villanova beats No. 14 Cincinnati 68-60

AP
Dec 04, 2024

Villanova Wildcats, Pa. (AP) Eric Dixon scored 31 points, Wooga Poplar had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Villanova gave No. 14 Cincinnati Bearcats its first loss of the season with a 68-60 victory on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (5-4) got a needed win for third-year coach Kyle Neptune, who has yet to lead the program to the NCAA Tournament in his first two seasons. Neptune also got the win two weeks after Villanova hired Eric Roedl as its new athletic director, a nice first impression under the new boss for a coach who needs all the wins he can get to move off the hot seat.

Jizzle James scored 19 points for the Bearcats (6-1).

The Wildcats had their lead cut to six points until Dixon, who played on the 2022 Final Four team, hit consecutive 3-pointers that made it 61-49.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats failed to start 7-0 for the second straight season.

Villanova: Even with the win, the Wildcats' at-large hopes for March might already be dashed with losses to Columbia and Saint Joseph's. They can hope to turn it around in the Big East portion of the schedule.

Villanova's Tyler Perkins buried a 3 to cap an early 13-2 run in the first half, and Jhamir Brickus hit a 3 at the halftime horn for a 37-28 lead.

The Bearcats shot only 38% overall from the floor after making at least 50% of their shots in the first five games, their longest streak since 2002.

The Bearcats host Howard on Sunday, and Villanova plays city rival Temple on Saturday in the Big 5 Classic at the Wells Fargo Center.

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1st Half
CINCY
Bearcats
28
NOVA
Wildcats
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Bearcats gains possession)
19:36	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup (Dillon Mitchell assists)	2-0
19:11	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Jhamir Brickus assists)	2-2
18:48		Aziz Bandaogo misses two point jump shot
18:46		Enoch Boakye defensive rebound
18:38	+2	Jhamir Brickus makes two point jump shot	2-4
18:24		Jordan Longino personal foul
18:12		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
18:10		Enoch Boakye defensive rebound
17:55		Dillon Mitchell personal foul
17:49		Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot
17:47		Jizzle James defensive rebound
17:24		Enoch Boakye blocks Dillon Mitchell's two point jump shot
17:22		Bearcats offensive rebound
17:16		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
17:14		Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
17:14	+2	Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk	4-4
16:50		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
16:48		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
16:36		Connor Hickman misses two point jump shot
16:34		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
16:22	+3	Jhamir Brickus makes three point jump shot	4-7
15:56	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	6-7
15:22		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
15:20		Simas Lukošius defensive rebound
15:14		Enoch Boakye blocks Simas Lukošius's two point layup
15:12		Tyler Perkins defensive rebound
14:55		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
14:53		Jizzle James defensive rebound
14:41		Dillon Mitchell misses two point jump shot
14:39		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
14:18	+2	Wooga Poplar makes two point jump shot	6-9
14:03	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	9-9
13:37	+2	Wooga Poplar makes two point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)	9-11
13:22	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	11-11
12:57	+3	Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (Wooga Poplar assists)	11-14
12:55		Bearcats 30 second timeout
12:55		TV timeout
12:34		Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
12:32		Jordan Longino defensive rebound
12:17	+2	Jordan Longino makes two point jump shot	11-16
11:51		Arrinten Page misses two point jump shot
11:49		Josh Reed offensive rebound
11:43		Bearcats turnover (shot clock violation)
11:43		TV timeout
11:30		Josh Reed shooting foul (Wooga Poplar draws the foul)
11:30	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 1 of 2	11-17
11:30	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 2 of 2	11-18
11:09		Simas Lukošius turnover (bad pass)
10:46		Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot
10:41		Jump ball. (Wildcats gains possession)
10:41		Tyler Perkins offensive rebound
10:41		Jump ball. (Wildcats gains possession)
10:18		Jhamir Brickus misses two point jump shot
10:18		Wildcats offensive rebound
10:18		Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation)
10:08		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
10:06		Jizzle James offensive rebound
9:57		Josiah Moseley personal foul
9:37		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
9:35		Josiah Moseley defensive rebound
9:23		Enoch Boakye offensive foul
9:23		Enoch Boakye turnover (offensive foul)
9:05	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point jump shot	13-18
8:43		Day Day Thomas personal foul
8:37		Eric Dixon misses two point layup
8:35		Eric Dixon offensive rebound
8:35	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup	13-20
8:33		Aziz Bandaogo shooting foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
8:33	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 1	13-21
8:13		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
8:11		Enoch Boakye defensive rebound
7:44	+3	Tyler Perkins makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)	13-24
7:23		Dillon Mitchell turnover (traveling)
7:23		TV timeout
7:13		Jordan Longino turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Mitchell steals)
7:08	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point dunk	15-24
6:52		Wooga Poplar turnover (lost ball) (Simas Lukošius steals)
6:39		Aziz Bandaogo misses two point dunk
6:37		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
6:28		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
6:26		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
6:18	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	17-24
5:54		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
5:52		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
5:35		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
5:33		Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
5:23		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
5:21		Tyler Perkins defensive rebound
4:55		Dillon Mitchell shooting foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
4:55		Eric Dixon misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:55	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-25
4:28	+2	Connor Hickman makes two point layup (Day Day Thomas assists)	19-25
4:12	+3	Jhamir Brickus makes three point jump shot	19-28
3:53		Enoch Boakye blocks Simas Lukošius's two point jump shot
3:53		Arrinten Page offensive rebound
3:53		Tyler Perkins personal foul
3:53		TV timeout
3:50	+2	Josh Reed makes two point layup (Connor Hickman assists)	21-28
3:27		Jhamir Brickus misses two point jump shot
3:27		Bearcats defensive rebound
3:06		Jump ball. (Bearcats gains possession)
2:59	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point layup	23-28
2:34		Arrinten Page shooting foul (Wooga Poplar draws the foul)
2:34	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-29
2:34	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-30
2:17	+3	Josh Reed makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	26-30
1:54		Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot
1:52		Simas Lukošius defensive rebound
1:42		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
1:40		Tyler Perkins defensive rebound
1:21	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point jump shot	26-32
1:00	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	28-32
0:42	+2	Enoch Boakye makes two point layup (Jhamir Brickus assists)	28-34
0:09		Enoch Boakye blocks Jizzle James's two point jump shot
0:08		Bearcats offensive rebound
0:08		Bearcats turnover (shot clock violation)
0:00	+3	Jhamir Brickus makes three point jump shot	28-37
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
CINCY
Bearcats
32
NOVA
Wildcats
31

Time		Play	Score
19:43	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Jhamir Brickus assists)	28-39
19:26		Wooga Poplar personal foul
19:22		Connor Hickman misses three point jump shot
19:20		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
19:01	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point jump shot	28-41
18:37		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
18:35		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
18:20		Jhamir Brickus misses three point jump shot
18:18		Bearcats defensive rebound
17:57		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
17:55		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
17:42		Wooga Poplar turnover (lost ball) (Aziz Bandaogo steals)
17:20	+3	Jizzle James makes three point jump shot (Simas Lukošius assists)	31-41
16:58		Enoch Boakye turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Mitchell steals)
16:48		Jordan Longino blocks Aziz Bandaogo's two point layup
16:46		Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound
16:41	+3	Dillon Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	34-41
16:19		Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot
16:17		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
16:12		Enoch Boakye personal foul
16:01	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point jump shot	36-41
15:32		Dillon Mitchell personal foul
15:32		TV timeout
15:25		Jordan Longino misses two point jump shot
15:23		Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
15:06		Josh Reed misses three point jump shot
15:04		Wildcats defensive rebound
15:04		Arrinten Page personal foul
14:44	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point jump shot	36-43
14:18	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot	39-43
14:17		Eric Dixon personal foul
14:07		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
14:03		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
13:58		Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot
13:56		Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
13:52		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
13:51		Bearcats offensive rebound
13:51		Enoch Boakye personal foul
13:43		Jordan Longino shooting foul (Simas Lukošius draws the foul)
13:43	+1	Simas Lukošius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-43
13:43	+1	Simas Lukošius makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-43
13:29		Day Day Thomas shooting foul
13:29	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-44
13:29	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-45
13:01		Connor Hickman misses three point jump shot
12:59		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
12:31	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point layup	41-47
12:10	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point layup	43-47
11:42		Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot
11:40		Connor Hickman defensive rebound
11:19		Tyler Betsey misses three point jump shot
11:17		Josh Reed offensive rebound
11:05		Day Day Thomas misses two point layup
11:03		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
10:47	+2	Josiah Moseley makes two point dunk (Jhamir Brickus assists)	43-49
10:23		Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
10:21		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
10:06		Tyler Betsey personal foul
10:06		TV timeout
10:04		Eric Dixon misses two point layup
10:02		Eric Dixon offensive rebound
9:57		Eric Dixon misses two point layup
9:55		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
9:52		Jhamir Brickus shooting foul (Aziz Bandaogo draws the foul)
9:52		Aziz Bandaogo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:52	+1	Aziz Bandaogo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-49
9:35		Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot
9:33		Jizzle James defensive rebound
9:25		Jordan Longino blocks Jizzle James's two point layup
9:23		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
8:55		Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot
8:53		Wooga Poplar offensive rebound
8:48		Connor Hickman shooting foul (Wooga Poplar draws the foul)
8:48	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-50
8:48	+1	Wooga Poplar makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-51
8:31		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
8:29		Wildcats defensive rebound
8:10		Wooga Poplar misses two point jump shot
8:08		Bearcats defensive rebound
7:58		Connor Hickman turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Perkins steals)
7:36	+3	Tyler Perkins makes three point jump shot	44-54
7:33		Bearcats 30 second timeout
7:33		TV timeout
7:10		Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
7:08		Tyler Perkins defensive rebound
6:54		Day Day Thomas personal foul
6:54		TV timeout
6:43		Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot
6:41		Simas Lukošius defensive rebound
6:20		Jizzle James turnover (lost ball)
6:00		Arrinten Page shooting foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul)
6:00	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-55
6:00		Eric Dixon misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:00		Arrinten Page defensive rebound
5:44		Wooga Poplar personal foul
5:44		Arrinten Page misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:44		Simas Lukošius offensive rebound
5:41		Simas Lukošius misses two point layup
5:39		Simas Lukošius offensive rebound
5:37		Simas Lukošius misses two point layup
5:35		Day Day Thomas offensive rebound
5:31	+3	Jizzle James makes three point jump shot (Day Day Thomas assists)	47-55
5:10		Eric Dixon turnover (lost ball) (Arrinten Page steals)
5:00		Jhamir Brickus shooting foul (Jizzle James draws the foul)
5:00		Jizzle James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:00	+1	Jizzle James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-55
4:31		Tyler Perkins misses three point jump shot
4:30		Wildcats offensive rebound
4:30		Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation)
4:11		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
4:10		Wildcats defensive rebound
3:57		Eric Dixon turnover (bad pass) (Day Day Thomas steals)
3:54		Wooga Poplar shooting foul
3:54		TV timeout
3:54		Day Day Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:54	+1	Day Day Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-55
3:32	+3	Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)	49-58
3:07		Arrinten Page misses three point jump shot
3:05		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
2:53	+3	Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)	49-61
2:50		Bearcats 60 second timeout
2:24	+2	Simas Lukošius makes two point layup	51-61
1:47		Jhamir Brickus misses three point jump shot
1:46		Josh Reed defensive rebound
1:46		Enoch Boakye personal foul
1:46	+1	Josh Reed makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-61
1:46		Wildcats 30 second timeout
1:46		Josh Reed misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:46		Wooga Poplar defensive rebound
1:18	+2	Eric Dixon makes two point jump shot (Jhamir Brickus assists)	52-63
0:54	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	55-63
0:32	+2	Wooga Poplar makes two point layup (Enoch Boakye assists)	55-65
0:24	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	57-65
0:24		Bearcats 30 second timeout
0:24		Josh Reed personal foul
0:24	+1	Eric Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-66
0:24		Eric Dixon misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:24		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
0:14	+3	Day Day Thomas makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	60-66
0:13		Wildcats 30 second timeout
0:08		Simas Lukošius personal foul
0:08	+1	Jhamir Brickus makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-67
0:08	+1	Jhamir Brickus makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-68
0:04		Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
0:02		Eric Dixon defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Eric Dixon defensive rebound