Butler dropped a 72-62 decision to Villanova Tuesday night at Finneran Pavilion in Philadelphia.
 
The Wildcats' Eric Dixon led all scorers with 22 points.
 
Butler is now 16-11 (7-9 BIG EAST) on the season, while Villanova improves to 15-11 (8-7).
 
HOW IT TRANSPIRED:

• The teams combined to make 15 of their first 23 attempts from the field over the opening eight minutes as Villanova held an early 20-18 advantage.
• A 13-3 Villanova run turned a 26-25 Butler lead into a 38-29 Villanova edge at the 3:03 mark of the first half.
• Villanova's 44-35 halftime lead was the largest of the first 20 minutes.
• As hot as the two teams started the game, the beginning of the second half was mostly the opposite as the teams made only one of their first 12 combined attempts.
• A quick 6-0 Butler run cut Villanova's lead to 48-46 with 13:28 remaining before Brendan Hausen scored five straight of his own to push the lead back to seven.
• Butler would twice cut the lead to three in the next few minutes, but was unable to re-take the lead.
• The 10-point margin at the final horn matched the largest of the game.

OF NOTE:

• The teams combined for 21 three-pointers in the contest.
• Butler went 11-for-29 from behind the arc, but only made four of 17 attempts in the second half.
• Villanova shot 49 percent from the field, including 10-for-24 from three-point range.
• Dixon was joined in double figures for Villanova by Justin Moore and Hausen, who each had 13.
• Jahmyl Telfort led the Bulldogs with 19 points and seven rebounds.
• Posh Alexander made four first-half three-pointers, which matched his career-high. He finished the game with 15 points.
• Villanova had a 37-20 rebounding edge.
• The game featured 14 lead changes, all coming in the first half.
• The Bulldogs won the first match-up between the two teams, 88-81, in double-overtime Jan. 27 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue a week on the road, traveling to Seton Hall Saturday. The tip in Newark is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on FS2. Butler's next home game is Wednesday, Feb. 28 when the Bulldogs host St. John's.