Eric Dixon and Rashaun Agee carried their teams into the quarterfinals, but both were cold in the first half Thursday night. Agee was 0-for-3 from 3 and had nine points. Dixon was 2-of-8 shooting, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc, for four points.
USC held a 31-27 lead at halftime and built that up to a 12-point advantage less than five minutes into the second half. Then Dixon woke up. He was responsible for 14 of Villanova’s points during a 16-2 run in the middle of the half, giving the Wildcats a 45-43 lead.
Villanova’s Eric Dixon finishes and-one to take lead against USC
Agee stepped up, too. He had 13 points in the second half and a couple of ferocious dunks.
Down the stretch, the teams went back and forth the rest of the way until the score was tied 59-59 with less than a minute left. Then Agee fouled Dixon, who went to the line and made one of his two attempts. Desmond Claude drove to the basket with a chance to put USC up, but his attempt hit the rim.
Who else but Dixon came down with the board. However, Dixon again missed his free throw attempt. With two seconds left, USC needed a miracle. The Trojans didn’t get it, though, as the buzzer sounded before Agee got his shot off.
The Wildcats came away with the nail-biting 60-59 win. Dixon finished with 28 points, 24 of which came in the second half. Wooga Poplar chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds for Villanova.
While Agee ended with an impressive 22 points, Saint Thomas was the Trojans’ leading scorer with 23 points. The senior forward also had a game-high 13 rebounds.
Villanova Wildcats vs. USC Trojans The Crown Highlights | FOX College Hoops
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