Villanova and Purdue tipped off the 2016 Gavitt Games with the intensity that was much expected for the first of two games in the series to feature two ranked teams going head-to-head.
The showdown came to the final seconds of the game, with the No. 3 Wildcats doing just enough to hang on for a 79-76 win over the No. 15 Boilermakers.
Josh Hart led the way for Villanova, scoring a game-high 24 points for the win. Eric Paschall had 11 points off the bench before fouling out late in the game. Jalen Brunson added 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists.