Notre Dame rallies to upset Villanova in Eternal City Tip-Off in a glorious college basketball season opener — SkimNews
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- Notre Dame erased a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat Villanova 74–72 in the 2026–27 season-opening Eternal City Tip-Off at Palazzo dello Sport in Rome.
- Logan Duncomb scored nine points after a scoreless first half and made the go-ahead three-pointer with 68 seconds left, his first career three.
- Braeden Smith finished with 16 points and made 10 of 11 free throws after being overwhelmed by Villanova's length and athleticism in the first half.
- Brady Koehler finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, then blocked Kwame Evans' potential go-ahead three, contested Elijah Crawford's potential game-tying jumper, corralled the rebound and made two free throws with less than five seconds left.
- Tyler Perkins scored 18 points and hit his fourth three of the second half before Villanova held a 60–50 lead with 10:24 remaining.
- Villanova committed 20 turnovers, drew ill-advised fouls and showed leaky transition defense, while Notre Dame converted only six shots at the rim.
Why it matters: Notre Dame made only six shots at the rim, while Braeden Smith went 10-for-11 at the line in a 74–72 win over a Villanova side that committed 20 turnovers. For Kevin Willard, the defeat weakens the “no-doubt Top 25” case and leaves a poor film session and substantial corrective work, though the Nov. 1 opener leaves a long runway.
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