College Basketball: Notre Dame rallies past Villanova in Rome

Notre Dame defeated Villanova 74-72 on Sunday in Rome, capping a nonconference slate that included an audience with Pope Leo XIV the previous day.

The match was part of the Eternal City Tip-Off doubleheader at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport, a venue located about a half-hour drive from the Vatican. Villanova fans made up the majority of the crowd in the arena.

Brady Koehler and Braeden Smith each scored 16 points for Notre Dame, which entered the season with 10 new players. Both teams remain unranked in the preseason AP Top 25.

Villanova led for most of the second half before a late surge by the Fighting Irish. With 1:36 remaining, Koehler dunked to narrow the lead to one point. Logan Duncomb then hit a 3-pointer with 1:08 left to give Notre Dame its first lead of the second half, 70-68.

Villanova standout Tyler Perkins fouled out with 16.3 seconds remaining. He finished with a game-high 18 points for the Wildcats. Koehler sank two free throws with 4 seconds left to put Notre Dame up 74-70 and effectively end the contest.

The loss marks the start of a revival effort for Villanova, which has not won an NCAA Tournament game in four years. That streak includes a three-year absence following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and a first-round loss to Utah State last season. Luigi Suigo, a 7-foot-3 Italian making his debut on home soil, recorded seven points for the Wildcats.

In the second game of the doubleheader, No. 13 Notre Dame women defeated Villanova 99-75. Hannah Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish with 32 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals. Notre Dame plays Mercyhurst in its home opener on Thursday, while Villanova faces Holy Cross on Friday and La Salle four days later.