Box Score
No. 9 Villanova came away with a 76-61 win over visiting Butler Tuesday night at the Finneran Pavilion just outside Philadelphia.

The Wildcats put five players in double figures as they hit 21 of 23 from the free throw line. Butler attempted only eight free throws on the night.

For the 13^th-ranked Bulldogs, the loss moves to the team to 15-4 overall and 3-3 in BIG EAST play. Villanova improves to 15-3 (5-1 BIG EAST).

Kamar Baldwin led Butler with 21 points. Bryce Nze and Bryce Golden each scored 11 points, with Nze adding 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

The free throw truly was the difference as Butler out-shot Villanova from the field, holding the Wildcats to 38-percent shooting. Nine of Villanova's 23 makes came from behind the arc. Jermaine Samuels led Villanova with 20 points, including 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

Saddiq Bey hit back-to-back three-pointers with a free throw included to open the second half and extend a 36-26 Villanova halftime lead to 43-26 less than a minute into the second half. Butler would respond with a run of its own.

Baldwin spurred an 8-0 run that pulled the Bulldogs back within four at 49-45 with 11:15 remaining in the game. That was part of a larger stretch that saw Butler make nine of 10 attempts. Villanova scored the next seven points to build the lead back to double figures at 56-45. From that point on, the lead would only get to single digits one more time.

Both Nze and Aaron Thompson had five assists, as Butler shot 41 percent from the field, but only 5-of-20 from behind the arc. Villanova held a narrow 43-37 rebounding edge.

The Bulldogs return home for a Friday night match-up at Hinkle Fieldhouse with Marquette. A limited number of tickets remain available for the 9 p.m. tip.