On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Villanova men’s basketball dropped 22 three-pointers to set a new single-game program record in a 94-60 defeat of Sacred Heart.

The previous Villanova record was 19 three-pointers, which was most recently hit against Temple in the Big 5 Classic on Dec. 7, 2024. Villanova shot 51% (22-43) from beyond the arc and 55% (34-62) from the field and led by as much as 39 points in the second half. 

Sophomore guard Bryce Lindsay set a new Villanova record for the most three-pointers by a single player with nine. He totaled 27 points, tying a team-high. All of his scoring came from beyond the arc.

“I was gonna thank my teammates for finding me when I got hot,” Lindsay said.  “We had 28 assists… a team high right now. We’re getting that team chemistry now, we understand where and who takes the shots.”

Villanova totaled a season-high 28 assists and was led by freshman guard Acaden Lewis with eight.

Lindsay started strong, scoring two three-pointers within the first three minutes of play. Graduate guard Devin Askew matched Lindsay, scoring 27 points off the bench. Lindsay and Askew accounted for 54 of Villanova’s 94 points.

“It felt amazing just to get my legs back under me to provide for the team,” Askew said.

Askew missed almost two months due to a knee sprain and returned just before the team’s season opener against Brigham Young University on Nov. 3. 

The scoring margin grew as the Wildcats kept a fast pace while the Pioneers fell behind. Villanova spun off a 27-2 run over seven minutes, which was spearheaded by Lindsay.

Senior forward Duke Brennan collected his second double-double of the season with 11 rebounds and 10 points.

“[We] have guys that can really fill it up, and we start playing with good tempo and pass the basketball,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “We had 17 assists on 19 field goals. We’ve got good shooters, it’s just a matter of understanding that early in the season, guys coming off injury, new lineups, do everything, it just takes a little time.”

To start the second half, the Wildcats were up, 52-26. Between Askew, Lindsay and Brennan, Villanova dominated the second half while the Pioneers failed to put up any points for nearly five minutes. Pioneers sophomore guard Nyle Ralph-Beyer, who averages 10.7 points per game for Sacred Heart, left the game with an ankle injury in the final minutes of the first half.

“We can’t expect a miracle after three games,” coach Willard said. “I think all these guys are starting to understand that you know if they do the right thing, play the right way, they can have total freedom.”

Villanova was without senior forward Tafara Gapare (foot) and junior guard Zion Stanford (ankle). Redshirt sophomore Malcolm Flaggs is still sidelined with an Achilles strain.

Senior forward walk-on Wade Chiddick played his first collegiate minutes and scored his first point off a free throw in the game’s final minutes.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” Willard said when asked about if anything impressed him. “There is a lot of work to be done. Defensively, we’re just not good.”

Three weeks into the regular season, the Wildcats are now 2-1. Villanova is scheduled to play Duquesne University at the Finneran Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. to conclude the inaugural Villanova Challenge.