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The Villanova basketball team picked up a huge win over rival UConn on Wednesday night to improve to 11-5 on the year. The game brought incredible dramatics as it came down to the final possession.
The Wildcats‘ upset bid was nearly dashed thanks to a questionable foul call with less than three ticks remaining on the clock. Hope was quickly restored in the moments that followed, with fans winning free donuts in the process.
Villanova grabbed an early lead in the matchup, taking a 32-25 advantage into the halftime break. They then held off a UConn comeback effort to leave with a 68-66 victory.
In the final seconds of action, with the home team leading by a single point, Huskies guard Alex Karaban drove to the hoop with intentions of giving his team the lead. His layup attempt was blocked by a Villanova defender. Referees called a foul.
This was called a foul on Villanova’s Jordan Longino. Sent Karaban to the line with 3 seconds left.
What do you all think? pic.twitter.com/lFCDlCSOtn
— Ryan Cassidy (@ryancassidycbb) January 9, 2025
Many believed the defender got all ball on the swat. Officials saw it differently. The whistle allowed Karaban, a career 83% free throw shooter, to hit the charity stripe.
He missed the first attempt, sending Finneran Pavilion into an absolute frenzy. Karaban then missed the second, essentially ending the game.
UConn just had several different opportunities to defeat Villanova and didn’t cash in on any…..
Alex Karaban with the chance to win it for the Huskies:
What a win for Nova.
— Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) January 9, 2025
Villanova secured the rebound and would add to its lead at the free throw line. UConn was unable to get a game-tying shot off.
Fans in the stands erupted upon landing the Top 10 win, and thanks to a new promotion from the athletic department, they’ll have a chance to celebrate with free donuts later in the week.
As a way of incentivizing crowd members to get loud on late free throw attempts, the Wildcats introduced a partnership with Federal Donuts & Chicken that awards game goers when an opposing player misses two consecutive free throws in the second half. It’s a promotion seen at a variety of stops throughout the country, and often, it can produce some of the loudest moments in game action.
#NovaNation, be on the lookout for new in-game promotions this season‼️✌️🏀@FederalDonuts @friendsofnova @shakeshack #GoNova pic.twitter.com/zUwV1JsKnC
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) November 4, 2024
In the end, Villanova basketball fans won twice on Wednesday. Those donuts will taste all the sweeter after landing the win over a hated foe.