Notre Dame beats Villanova in Rome season opener after papal audience
Summarised from 2 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 1 Nov, 21:50 · Archive
Notre Dame defeated Villanova 74-72 in a college basketball season opener in Rome on Sunday, a day after both teams met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
Notre Dame defeated Villanova 74-72 in the men's college basketball season opener in Rome on Sunday. Brady Koehler scored key baskets down the stretch to lead Notre Dame's late comeback after trailing for most of the second half. Koehler and Braeden Smith each finished with 16 points for Notre Dame, which has ten new players this season. Tyler Perkins led Villanova with 18 points before fouling out with 16.3 seconds remaining.
The men's game was part of a doubleheader dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off, created to honour the first American pope. On Saturday, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost and a Villanova graduate, met both teams and approximately 7,000 fans from both schools in the Vatican's Paul VI audience hall. During the audience, the pope told the teams he remained neutral on sporting matters, though he joked that his former self might disagree. The games were played at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport, about a half-hour's drive from the Vatican.
Villanova is seeking a revival after struggling in recent years. The team went three years without winning an NCAA Tournament game following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, then suffered a first-round loss to Utah State last season. Italian 7-foot-3 player Luigi Suigo made his Villanova debut on home soil, finishing with seven points including two dunks and a three-pointer.
How it is being reported
- Notre Dame beats Villanova 74-72 in men's college basketball season opener in RomeBrady Koehler scored key baskets down the stretch and Notre Dame made a late comeback after trailing for most of the second half to beat Villanova 74-72 in the college basketball season opener in Rome.Clickorlando · 1 Nov, 17:22
- Notre Dame beats Villanova 74-70 in men's college basketball season opener in RomeBrady Koehler scored key baskets down the stretch and Notre Dame made a late comeback after trailing for most of the second half to beat Villanova 74-70 in the college basketball season opener in Rome.News4Jax · 1 Nov, 17:22
- Villanova and Notre Dame open the college basketball season in Rome following papal audienceThey’ve been blessed by the pope.News4Jax · 1 Nov, 09:16
- Villanova and Notre Dame open the college basketball season in Rome following papal audienceThey’ve been blessed by the pope.Clickorlando · 1 Nov, 09:16
- Pope Leo receiving teams and fans from US college basketball before their games in RomePope Leo XIV is preparing to hold a private audience with basketball teams from his alma mater, Villanova, and fellow Catholic university Notre Dame, plus thousands of traveling American fans.Clickorlando · 31 Oct, 07:37
- Pope Leo receiving teams and fans from US college basketball before their games in RomePope Leo XIV is preparing to hold a private audience with basketball teams from his alma mater, Villanova, and fellow Catholic university Notre Dame, plus thousands of traveling American fans.News4Jax · 31 Oct, 07:37
In this story: Notre Dame · Villanova · Pope Leo XIV · Brady Koehler · Tyler Perkins · Rome
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