No. 10 Marquette Defeats Villanova 87-74 at Home

No. 10 Marquette secured an 87-74 victory over Villanova, capitalizing on a strong defensive strategy and superior ball control, winning the turnover battle 13 to 6. Senior guard Stevie Mitchell led Marquette with a career-high 21 points, while Royce Parham hit a critical three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, giving Marquette a 36-26 lead. Villanova struggled offensively, with their leading scorer, Eric Dixon, held to just 18 points and only three in the first half, thanks to Marquette's physical defense. Jordan Longino was the standout for the Wildcats, scoring a career-high 27 points, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome Marquette's dominance. Head coach Kyle Neptune acknowledged that Marquette's aggressive approach set the tone for the game, as Villanova's defense faltered, allowing 87 points. This win underscores Marquette's position as a top contender in the Big East, improving their record to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the conference.