Eric Dixon scored 22 points to lift host Villanova past Butler 72-62 on Tuesday.
Dixon's 3-pointer from the corner with 1:01 left gave the Wildcats that exact lead. Justin Moore and Brendan Hausen added 13 apiece for Villanova (15-11, 8-7 Big East), which won its third in a row.
The Wildcats finished 10-of-24 from 3-point territory and 12-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Jahmyl Telfort led Butler with 19 points while Posh Alexander added 15 and Pierre Brooks II had 10.
The Bulldogs (16-11, 7-9) lost their third straight game. They missed nine of their last 11 attempts from the field -- all nine coming from 3-point range -- as they finished 11-for-29 from distance.
Dixon hit two free throws with 5:47 left. After Telfort missed a 3-pointer from the corner, Dixon stayed aggressive and made two more free throws for a 63-54 Villanova lead with 5:07 remaining.
Telfort connected from 3-point range with 4:20 left and the Bulldogs got within 63-57, but they would draw no closer than six points down the stretch.
Villanova led 44-35 at halftime thanks in large part to 11 points from Moore and 60.7 percent shooting as a team. Alexander hit all four of his 3-pointers to pace the Bulldogs with 12 points.
Alexander dropped in a 3-pointer from the wing over the outstretched arms of TJ Bamba with 9:26 remaining in the first half for a 23-22 Butler lead. Dixon responded with a trey with 8:20 left as the Wildcats went back in front.
Villanova took a 31-26 lead with 5:30 remaining after Moore hit a 3-pointer from the corner. Telfort came right back with a 3-pointer on Butler's next possession.
Moore fired a crisp pass into the lane that Tyler Burton caught, and he scored for a 35-29 advantage with 3:44 left.
After trailing by nine at halftime, Butler cut the deficit to 48-46 with 13:28 left in the second half following a deep 3-pointer by Telfort.
Hausen then hit a short jump shot and a trey for the Wildcats to pull out to a 53-46 advantage.
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