NCAAB · Final

Villanova Dominates Butler in Conference Clash

Saturday, January 3, 2026, 12:00 PM ET · Hinkle Fieldhouse

Villanova Wildcats 85, Butler Bulldogs 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs?

Villanova Wildcats beat Butler Bulldogs 85-67 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 3, 2026.

Who was favored in Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs?

Butler Bulldogs were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The underdog won.

The Villanova Wildcats secured a decisive victory over the Butler Bulldogs, winning 85-67 in a matchup that showcased Villanova's strong form and Butler's recent struggles. This game took place at Hinkle Fieldhouse, a venue known for its rich basketball history and passionate fan base. Villanova's win extends their current winning streak to four games, while Butler has now lost two consecutive matches.

Villanova entered the game with an impressive away record of 12-2, and their recent performance has been notable, with a record of 9-1 in their last ten games. They averaged 76.1 points scored and allowed 66.4 points during this stretch. In contrast, Butler's home record stood at 10-5, but they have struggled recently, going 7-3 in their last ten games with an average of 82.5 points scored and 74.7 points allowed. Butler's last five games resulted in a record of 3-2, with an average of 84.0 points scored and 77.6 points allowed.

In their previous meetings this season, Butler had lost both encounters against Villanova, including a 70-80 defeat on March 1 and a 65-73 loss on January 1. This history added to the pressure on Butler as they sought to turn their fortunes around against a formidable opponent.

The injury picture for both teams was not detailed in the block, but the absence of key players can often influence the outcome of games at this level. Villanova's recent form, coupled with Butler's struggles, made this matchup particularly intriguing for fans and analysts alike.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Butler as a slight favorite with a spread of -2.5, indicating expectations for a competitive game. The total points line was set at 149.5, reflecting the anticipated scoring potential of both teams. However, Villanova's performance on the court far exceeded those expectations, demonstrating their offensive prowess and defensive resilience.

The game conditions were conducive to a high-scoring affair, and Villanova took full advantage, executing their game plan effectively. Key moments in the second half included multiple free throws by Tyler Perkins, who contributed significantly to Villanova's scoring in the closing stages of the game. Perkins made a series of free throws that extended Villanova's lead, culminating in a final score of 85-67.

Overall, this game highlighted Villanova's current strength in the league and Butler's need to regroup as they head into the next phase of the season. Fans can look forward to seeing how both teams adjust in their upcoming matchups.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	BTLR -2.5	149.5 o -112 / u -108	Villanova Wildcats +124 · Butler Bulldogs -148

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsFinley Bizjack18Butler Bulldogs
AssistsMichael Ajayi5Butler Bulldogs
ReboundsMichael Ajayi12Butler Bulldogs
PointsBryce Lindsay18Villanova Wildcats
AssistsAcaden Lewis6Villanova Wildcats
ReboundsDuke Brennan10Villanova Wildcats

Recent form

Butler Bulldogs

Last 10: 7-3Streak L182.5 scored · 74.7 allowed per game5-1 at home

L85-89at Creighton BluejaysDec 31
W101-52vs NJIT HighlandersDec 22
W61-58vs Northwestern WildcatsDec 20
L60-79at UConn HuskiesDec 17
W113-110vs Providence FriarsDec 13
L68-77vs Boise State BroncosDec 6
W84-68vs Eastern Michigan EaglesDec 3
W94-69vs Wright State RaidersNov 28
W80-73at Virginia CavaliersNov 23
W79-72at South Carolina GamecocksNov 21

Villanova Wildcats

Last 10: 9-1Streak W476.1 scored · 66.4 allowed per game2-1 away

W71-66vs DePaul Blue DemonsDec 31
W64-56at Seton Hall PiratesDec 24
W76-66vs Wisconsin BadgersDec 20
W79-61vs Pittsburgh PanthersDec 13
L61-89at Michigan WolverinesDec 9
W90-63vs Pennsylvania QuakersDec 7
W74-56vs Temple OwlsDec 1
W89-75vs Old Dominion MonarchsNov 26
W70-55at La Salle ExplorersNov 20
W87-77vs Duquesne DukesNov 16

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
St. John's	30-7	-	18-2
UConn	34-6	1	17-3
Villanova	24-9	3	15-5
Seton Hall	21-12	8	10-10
Creighton	16-18	9	9-11
DePaul	16-16	10	8-12
Butler	16-16	11	7-13
Providence	15-18	11	7-13
Marquette	12-20	11	7-13
Georgetown	16-18	12	6-14
Xavier	15-18	12	6-14

Box score

Stat	Villanova Wildcats	Butler Bulldogs
Field goals	32-58	24-63
Field goal %	55	38
Three-pointers	7-21	6-27
Three-point %	33	22
Free throws	14-20	13-14
Free throw %	70	93
Rebounds	30	36
Offensive rebounds	7	13
Defensive rebounds	23	23
Assists	14	15
Steals	11	7
Blocks	4	0
Turnovers	11	14
Team turnovers	1	1
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	15	10
Fast-break points	8	3
Points in the paint	46	28
Fouls	16	17
Largest lead	18	9
Lead changes	1	1
Time in front	47	47

How the scoring went

2nd Half47-40Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor makes layup
2nd Half49-40Acaden Lewis makes driving layup
2nd Half50-40Duke Brennan makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half52-40Acaden Lewis makes driving layup
2nd Half52-43Yohan Traore makes 28-foot three point jumper (Michael Ajayi assists)
2nd Half55-43Bryce Lindsay makes 30-foot three point jumper
2nd Half55-45Michael Ajayi makes 1-foot dunk (Evan Haywood assists)
2nd Half58-45Bryce Lindsay makes 27-foot three point jumper (Malachi Palmer assists)
2nd Half58-47Michael Ajayi makes driving layup (Yame Butler assists)
2nd Half58-49Yame Butler makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Evan Haywood assists)
2nd Half61-49Matt Hodge makes 25-foot three point jumper (Bryce Lindsay assists)
2nd Half61-51Yohan Traore makes 2-foot dunk (Evan Haywood assists)
2nd Half63-51Devin Askew makes driving layup
2nd Half63-54Yame Butler makes 27-foot three point jumper (Michael Ajayi assists)
2nd Half63-55Drayton Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half63-56Drayton Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half65-56Acaden Lewis makes layup
2nd Half67-56Tyler Perkins makes 14-foot turnaround jump shot
2nd Half69-56Tyler Perkins makes 6-foot pullup jump shot
2nd Half70-56Matt Hodge makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half71-56Duke Brennan makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half71-58Michael Ajayi makes layup
2nd Half73-58Bryce Lindsay makes driving layup
2nd Half73-60Drayton Jones makes 2-foot dunk (Finley Bizjack assists)
2nd Half73-61Drayton Jones makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half75-61Matt Hodge makes 7-foot jumper
2nd Half75-62Finley Bizjack makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half75-63Finley Bizjack makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half75-64Michael Ajayi makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half75-65Michael Ajayi makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half77-65Devin Askew makes driving layup
2nd Half78-65Acaden Lewis makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half79-65Acaden Lewis makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half79-67Finley Bizjack makes driving layup
2nd Half80-67Devin Askew makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half81-67Devin Askew makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half82-67Tyler Perkins makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half83-67Tyler Perkins makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half84-67Tyler Perkins makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half85-67Tyler Perkins makes free throw 2 of 2