At first it was a game with a hint of nostalgia—a packed Madison Square Garden, with howling UConn Huskies and Villanova Wildcats fans. The back-and-forth first half helped bring the intensity that comes with a close contest.
However, the tone shifted in the second half to a reminder of the more recent last couple of years, as Villanova asserted its dominance once again, taking the second leg of a three-year series with the Huskies. Midway through the second half, the Wildcats exploded with a 27-4 run that spanned over eight minutes and paved the way to a 81-58 victory.