Kamar Baldwin's step-back three-pointer as time expired gave Butler a 79-76 win over No. 10 Villanova Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
 
Butler's closing stretch included the Bulldogs making nine of their final 11 attempts from the field. Villanova made five of its final six shots (all three-pointers) over the final 4:30 of the game. It was Saddiq Bey's three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining that tied the game. Butler held the lead since breaking a 56-56 tie with 9:15 on the clock.
 
A Baldwin three-pointer matched Butler's largest lead at 68-58 (5:44 remaining). But the teams would trade difficult makes down the stretch with most of Villanova's coming from behind the line to slowly chip away at the lead before Baldwin's heroics.
 
Butler shot 58 percent from the field, including 6-of-13 from three-point range. Villanova countered by shooting 47 percent, keyed by 9-of-17 shooting from behind the arc.
 
Sean McDermott led the Bulldogs with 21 points and eight rebounds. He went 7-of-8 from the field, and made all three of his three-point attempts. His offensive rebound and two free throws gave Butler its 76-73 lead with 32 seconds remaining so Bey's shot could only tie the game.
 
Bryce Golden scored a career-best 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Baldwin finished with 17 points and eight boards. Aaron Thompson, who missed the last three games with a wrist injury suffered in the Jan. 21 loss at Villanova, returned to action Wednesday night. He scored nine points in helping the Bulldogs to its most efficient offensive performance of the season.
 
Bey (29) and Collin Gillespie (28) combined for 57 of Villanova's 76 points. The Wildcats committed only three turnovers, compared to just six by the Bulldogs.
 
Wednesday night's game was delayed for almost 20 minutes midway through the first half due to water leaking onto the floor. Butler's facilities staff was able to address the issue from Hinkle's catwalk and play resumed.
 
The Bulldogs, ranked 19^th in both of this week's national polls, improve to 18-5 overall and 6-4 in BIG EAST play. Villanova now stands at 17-5 (7-3 BIG EAST).
 
Butler returns to action Sunday at Marquette. The teams are scheduled for a noon (Eastern, 11 a.m. Central) tip in Milwaukee. FS1 will broadcast the action.