National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Villanova 67, Syracuse 53
When: 9:58 PM ET, Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Officials: # Bert Smith, # John Gaffney, # Mike Roberts
Attendance: 14344

Justin Moore scored 18 points and Collin Gillespie added 14 as No. 6 Villanova defeated Syracuse 67-53 in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday in New York City.

Jermaine Samuels contributed 13 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (7-2), who took a program-record 50 shots from beyond the 3-point arc but hit just 13. Caleb Daniels chipped in with 11 points for Villanova, which won its fourth in a row.

Jimmy Boeheim led the Orange (5-4) with 21 points while Joseph Girard III added 11. Buddy Boeheim was held to six points on 3-of-15 shooting. Cole Swider, a former Villanova standout, swept 12 rebounds and Jesse Edwards blocked three shots.

Syracuse had its two-game winning streak snapped.

The Orange led 29-26 at halftime thanks in large part to Jimmy Boeheim's 11 points.

Jimmy Boeheim drove to the basket and scored with 10:17 left in the first half for a 20-16 Syracuse lead.

Villanova missed 14 of its first 20 shots but still trailed by just three when deep reserve Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree made 1 of 2 free throws with 7:57 left in the half.

When Moore dropped in a 3-pointer with 5:11 remaining, the Wildcats cut the deficit to 22-20.

Jimmy Boeheim responded with a tough jumper on Syracuse's next possession for a four-point advantage.

The Wildcats made their first two shots of the second half -- a trey by Gillespie and a layup by Samuels -- to tie the game at 31. Consecutive jumpers by Moore gave Villanova a 35-31 lead.

Girard came back with a 3-pointer to pull the Orange within one. Edwards soon converted a three-point play with 15:33 left to give Syracuse a 39-37 advantage.

The Wildcats regained the lead, 46-45, with 11:51 remaining after Gillespie knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Moore and Gillespie each added a trey and the Wildcats' lead was seven.

Buddy Boeheim responded with a runner in the lane to close within 55-49 with 7:31 to go. Jimmy Boeheim scored in the low post on Syracuse's next possession to get within four.

But Villanova moved back ahead 61-51 thanks to some suffocating defense and a dunk by Samuels with 4:16 left.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Villanova   Syracuse
Justin Moore 18 Scoring Jimmy Boeheim 21
Collin Gillespie 5 Assists Joseph Girard III 3
Jermaine Samuels 9 Rebounds Cole Swider 12
Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree 3 Free Throws Made Jesse Edwards 8
Collin Gillespie 3 Steals Jimmy Boeheim 1
Jermaine Samuels 2 Blocks Jesse Edwards 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Villanova 67 32.5 13-50 4-6 15 46 3 5 10
Syracuse 53 35.7 5-15 8-15 4 28 7 4 11