No. 7 Villanova pulled away late from Butler, posting an 85-66 win in Philadelphia. The Wildcats improve to 6-1 with the win, while Butler falls to 1-1. For the Bulldogs, it was their first game in 21 days due to a COVID-19 pause following their season opener.

Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl led four Wildcats in double figures with 18 points apiece. The margin was 10 (70-60) when Aaron Thompson went down with a knee injury following his made basket with 4:36 to play. Villanova pulled away at that point. An update on Thompson's condition will be determined after an evaluation once the team returns to Indianapolis.

Butler trimmed the lead to just two with 16:15 to play in the second half on Jair Bolden's fourth three-pointer of the game. But the lead soon grew to 11.

Bolden led the Bulldogs with 18 points, while Thompson added 14. Bryce Nze had nine points and eight rebounds. Freshman Chuck Harris had a career-high 12.

Bolden provided the early scoring bunch for the Bulldogs, connecting on 13 of Butler's first 17 points as the team scored on its first eight possessions to take a 17-10 lead with 14:55 remaining in the first half. Bolden had 15 points over the first half.

Butler started 9-of-11 from the field, but then cooled as Villanova was able to use a 17-5 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 34-26 advantage with 4:58 remaining in the half. The lead would grow to 11 before Thompson's lay-up at the horn cut Villanova's lead to 41-34 at the half.

Butler fought foul trouble throughout the first 20 minutes. Thompson picked up his second foul with 10:02 remaining in the half and Villanova leading by a single point. Four Bulldogs had at least two fouls in the first half. Butler dressed only nine players, and at one point midway through the second half had four freshmen in the contest.

Villanova had a slight edge in the field, posting 50-percent shooting to Butler's 48-percent. Villanova added 10 three-pointers in the contest, with four Wildcats hitting two a-piece. 
 
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, squaring off with Indiana as part of the annual Crossroads Classic in downtown Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The tip is set for 11:30 a.m. and will air on FS1.