Villanova Edges Marquette in Close Contest
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 2:30 PM ET · Fiserv Forum
Villanova Wildcats 76, Marquette Golden Eagles 73, 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 Marquette Golden Eagles?
Villanova Wildcats beat Marquette Golden Eagles 76-73 at Fiserv Forum on January 10, 2026.
Who was favored in Villanova Wildcats vs Marquette Golden Eagles?
Villanova Wildcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Villanova Wildcats defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles 76-73 at the Fiserv Forum on January 10, 2026. This game was noteworthy as it showcased the contrasting fortunes of both teams, with Villanova maintaining a strong away record while Marquette struggled at home.
Villanova entered the game with an away record of 2-1 and a recent form of 8-2 over their last ten games, averaging 76.1 points scored and allowing 67.5 points. However, they faced a setback in their last outing against the Creighton Bluejays, losing 76-72. The Wildcats had previously shown resilience, winning four of their last five games prior to the match against Marquette, which highlighted their ability to perform under pressure.
On the other hand, Marquette's home record stood at 3-3, but they had been struggling with a 3-7 record over their last ten games, averaging 69.7 points scored while allowing 77.2 points. Their recent form included a narrow victory against the Xavier Musketeers just two days prior, winning 66-65, but they had lost six of their last ten games, indicating a challenging stretch for the Golden Eagles.
The last five games for Marquette saw them record only one win, averaging 65.6 points scored and 75.8 points allowed, which underscored their defensive vulnerabilities. Villanova, conversely, had a more favorable last five games record of 4-1, with an average of 73.6 points scored and 66.2 points allowed.
Historically, the two teams had met twice in the previous season, splitting the series with each team winning one game. Marquette had previously triumphed over Villanova 87-74 at home, while Villanova responded with an 81-66 victory on their home court.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details about player availability, but both teams were expected to compete at full strength, which added to the anticipation surrounding the fixture.
The betting market reflected Villanova as the favorites, with DraftKings pricing them at -3.5 on the spread and -166 on the money line, while Marquette was set at +140 on the money line. The total was set at 146.5, with the over at -105 and the under at -110, indicating a competitive matchup expected by the bookmakers.
The game conditions were conducive to a high-energy contest, with both teams eager to establish dominance early. Villanova's strategy relied on their strong offensive execution, while Marquette aimed to leverage their home-court advantage to bolster their performance.
As the game unfolded, it was evident that both teams were prepared for a battle. Key moments included Devin Askew's clutch step-back jumper that extended Villanova's lead to 72-65 in the second half, and Royce Parham's free throws that maintained the Wildcats' advantage. Marquette fought back with a series of driving layups from Adrien Stevens and Nigel James Jr., narrowing the gap to 72-71.
Ultimately, Villanova's ability to execute in crucial moments, including Tyler Perkins' driving layup that sealed the game at 76-73, proved decisive. Despite Marquette's valiant efforts, they could not overcome the Wildcats' late-game execution. The final score reflected a hard-fought contest, leaving Villanova with a solid away victory and Marquette searching for answers as they continued their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | VILL -3.5 | 146.5 o -105 / u -110 | Villanova Wildcats -166 · Marquette Golden Eagles +140 |
Leaders
- PointsNigel James Jr.31Marquette Golden Eagles
- AssistsNigel James Jr.6Marquette Golden Eagles
- ReboundsChase Ross4Marquette Golden Eagles
- PointsAcaden Lewis20Villanova Wildcats
- AssistsAcaden Lewis8Villanova Wildcats
- ReboundsDevin Askew6Villanova Wildcats
Recent form
Marquette Golden Eagles
Last 10: 3-7Streak W169.7 scored · 77.2 allowed per game3-3 at home
- W66-65vs Xavier MusketeersJan 8
- L57-73at UConn HuskiesJan 4
- L73-79vs Seton Hall PiratesDec 31
- L63-84at Creighton BluejaysDec 21
- L69-78vs Georgetown HoyasDec 18
- L59-79at Purdue BoilermakersDec 13
- L76-96at Wisconsin BadgersDec 6
- W75-72vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 3
- L74-75vs Oklahoma SoonersNov 28
- W85-71vs Central Michigan ChippewasNov 22
Villanova Wildcats
Last 10: 8-2Streak L176.1 scored · 67.5 allowed per game2-1 away
- L72-76vs Creighton BluejaysJan 8
- W85-67at Butler BulldogsJan 3
- 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
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 | Marquette Golden Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-56 | 25-57 |
| Field goal % | 55 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 7-25 | 11-31 |
| Three-point % | 28 | 35 |
| Free throws | 7-7 | 12-15 |
| Free throw % | 100 | 80 |
| Rebounds | 26 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 17 |
| Assists | 14 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 4 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 28 |
| Fouls | 16 | 11 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 1 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 94 | 2 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half42-38Nigel James Jr. makes 29-foot three pointer
- 1st Half44-38Duke Brennan makes 2-foot floating jump shot (Acaden Lewis assists)
- 2nd Half44-39Adrien Stevens makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-40Adrien Stevens makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-41Nigel James Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-41Tyler Perkins makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half48-41Tyler Perkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half48-44Nigel James Jr. makes 28-foot three point jumper (Chase Ross assists)
- 2nd Half48-45Royce Parham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-46Royce Parham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-46Acaden Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-46Devin Askew makes 24-foot three point jumper (Acaden Lewis assists)
- 2nd Half53-49Royce Parham makes 28-foot three point jumper (Chase Ross assists)
- 2nd Half53-51Royce Parham makes driving layup (Damarius Owens assists)
- 2nd Half55-51Devin Askew makes 13-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half57-51Tyler Perkins makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half57-54Nigel James Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tre Norman assists)
- 2nd Half60-54Acaden Lewis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Duke Brennan assists)
- 2nd Half60-55Nigel James Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-55Devin Askew makes 9-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half63-55Acaden Lewis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-55Acaden Lewis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-57Chase Ross makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-58Royce Parham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-59Royce Parham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-61Nigel James Jr. makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half65-61Devin Askew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-61Devin Askew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-63Royce Parham makes driving layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half68-63Devin Askew makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-63Acaden Lewis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half70-65Tre Norman makes layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half72-65Devin Askew makes 8-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half72-66Royce Parham makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-67Royce Parham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-69Adrien Stevens makes driving layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half72-71Nigel James Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-71Matt Hodge makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-73Royce Parham makes driving layup (Nigel James Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half76-73Tyler Perkins makes driving layup (Acaden Lewis assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Marquette Golden Eagles, below favours Villanova Wildcats.
Venue
- Fiserv ForumMilwaukee, WI
- Attendance15342
- OfficialsMike Roberts, Tim Smith, Ed Corliss
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- Villanova Edges Marquette in Close ContestFeb 10, 2026