(Photo: Laurence Kesterson, AP)
VILLANOVA, Pa. – In an evenly-matched game, one or two areas can make all the difference between winning and losing.
For 40 minutes Monday night at Finneran Pavilion, Xavier proved its capable of playing with No. 10 Villanova, but the Musketeers also proved they aren't there yet in a 68-62 loss to open Big East Conference play.
Xavier's defense wasn't all the way there. Its offense sputtered one too many times and wasn't able to keep pace with the Wildcats' perimeter attack.
Xavier actually shot it better than Villanova from the field (47 percent to 40 percent) but the Wildcats made seven 3-pointers and Xavier only made one, which didn't come until the final minute of the game.