Dixon’s career day powers Villanova past UConn, 85-74

In what has been a breakout 2021-22 season for Villanova men’s basketball forward Eric Dixon, Saturday was his masterpiece.

It came against one of the best big men in the Big East. A national television audience watched as Dixon at times tormented Connecticut sophomore Adama Sanogo. He beat him with post moves, beat him off the dribble, and outmuscled him for rebounds.

Dixon, a redshirt sophomore from Abington High, finished with a career-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds (five offensive) as No. 12 Villanova turned an old school Big East matchup into an old school Big East game and beat No. 17 Connecticut, 85-74.

The excitement inside Wells Fargo Center was muted for a bit when Villanova’s star guard, Collin Gillespie, had to be helped off the floor with 6:53 on the second-half clock and the Wildcats holding a 67-53 lead.

Gillespie was closing out on Jordan Hawkins’ three-point attempt and appeared to land on his foot. The graduate student, and Villanova’s leading scorer, did not return to the game. He finished with 19 points.

“We’re gonna get him X-ray’d,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said.

Villanova played the last seven minutes without its starting backcourt and top two scorers, since Justin Moore was out Saturday with an ankle injury.

The interior size advantage the Huskies had was gone in four minutes. UConn’s starting front court of Sanogo and Isaiah Whaley each picked up two fouls early and were forced to the bench.

“Getting Sanogo in foul trouble early, it wasn’t our plan but when it happened it was positive for us,” Wright said.

Sanogo was the key loss for UConn. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man averages 15 points and eight rebounds per game. He scored zero points and had one rebound in eight first-half minutes.

“When you’re playing Villanova and the way that they defend,” Huskies head coach Dan Hurley said, “I just couldn’t believe both of those guys getting some touchy fouls to start the game. It certainly had an impact.”

With the big men out for UConn, Villanova went to work offensively. Dixon was dominant at times in the first half, as was Gillespie. The duo combined for 26 of Villanova’s 40 points at halftime. Villanova led by 11 at the break.

“The types of moves he was making and how sharp he was… it was very impressive,” Hurley said. “He doesn’t get anywhere near enough credit.”

Dixon impressed his own coach as well.

“He’s got so much more in him, too,” Wright said. “It’s amazing. It’s growth. And he’s smart enough to know it doesn’t happen overnight.”

The absence of Moore motovated Dixon.

“I just wanted to show Justin that we were there for him and we were going to go out there and take care of it,” Dixon said.

Sanogo did get the better of Dixon and Villanova’s defense early in the second half. He scored on the first possession of the half and then blocked Dixon at the other end. Sanogo and R.J. Cole combined for 11 quick points as Connecticut cut Villanova’s 11-point lead to seven, 47-40, before four minutes went by in the second half.

Wright called timeout after Sanogo’s hook shot cut it to seven. The Wildcats then ripped off 12 straight. The points came in a variety of ways. Chris Arcidiacono drilled a corner triple; Caleb Daniels, who had 16 points, stole a pass and went in for a solo slam; Dixon scored twice in the post; and Gillespie nailed a three-pointer of his own.

The 59-40 lead was built in a blink. It happened over 3 minutes, 14 seconds. The separation was necessary, as UConn’s pressure helped cut the deficit to 10 down the stretch.

But Villanova’s free-throw shooting, the best in the country, made sure it didn’t get tighter. The Wildcats finished 21-of-22 from the line.