In the biggest game in Cintas Center history, the first half between No. 5 Xavier and No. 1 Villanova did not disappoint.
The Musketeers went to their locker room with a 40-37 lead, bolstered by J.P. Macura’s 13 points. The Wildcats were led by Kris Jenkins’ 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting, but no other Villanova player scored more than five.
The lead changed eight times in the first 20 minutes but Jenkins was the difference-maker early for Nova, as he buried three of his first four 3-point attempts. Jenkins, who averages 11.