Deadspin: Brady Koehler fuels Notre Dame past Villanova in Rome after late rally

Irish rally late in Rome

Notre Dame trailed throughout the second half, then cut the gap to two with less than five minutes remaining. After Braeden Smith made three free throws, Duncomb assisted Ethan Roberts on a layup, and Koehler’s fast-break dunk put the Irish ahead 68-67.

Villanova made two free throws, but its next possession ended without a score. Duncomb was left open at the top of the key and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:08 left.

Koehler seals the victory

Koehler blocked Kwame Evans Jr.’s corner 3-point attempt after Villanova tried to respond quickly. The Irish secured the rebound, and the Wildcats did not get closer than two points in the final minute.

Elijah Crawford’s potential tying jumper with 10 seconds left missed. Koehler made two free throws, and Darryl Simmons II scored an uncontested layup at the buzzer to set the final margin.

Villanova built an early lead

Villanova turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, but still led 35-31 at halftime after Crawford made a pull-up shot with 10 seconds remaining. Koehler had scored on a putback after Smith stole a pass from Evans, cutting the deficit to 25-22.

Tyler Perkins made 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions early in the second half, pushing Villanova’s lead to 44-35. Luigi Suigo’s dunk then made it 46-36 with 16:23 left.

Turnovers outweigh shooting edge

Perkins led all scorers with 18 points, going 5-for-11 from 3-point range. Crawford added 12 points and five assists, while Jake Fiegen scored 11. Villanova shot 46.2% to Notre Dame’s 35.4%, but committed 20 turnovers. Smith and Koehler each scored 16 for Notre Dame, Shrewsberry had 15 and Roberts added 11.

A Rome season opener

The men’s and women’s basketball teams from Notre Dame and Villanova opened their seasons in Rome in the Eternal City Tip-Off. Earlier in the week, the teams had audiences with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a Villanova graduate.

The broadcast said the pope did not attend Sunday’s game. Notre Dame began the season 1-0, while Villanova started 0-1.