ROME — Brady Koehler scored key baskets down the stretch and Notre Dame made a late comeback after trailing for most of the second half to beat Villanova 74-70 in the men’s college basketball season opener in Rome on Sunday.
Villanova standout Tyler Perkins fouled out with 16.3 seconds to go. He led the Wildcats with 18 points.
The event — dubbed the Eternal City Tip-Off — included an audience with Villanova alumnus Pope Leo XIV for both teams and their fans on Saturday.
“I’ve been a part of some really cool things and this is right at the top of the list of experiences,” Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “We played two road games in the [preseason] and it came in handy because the Villanova fans were loud.”
Both teams are unranked in the preseason AP Top 25.
Koehler and Braeden Smith led Notre Dame, which has 10 new players, with 16 points each.
Koehler’s dunk cut Villanova’s lead to one point with 1:36 remaining and Logan Duncomb hit a 3-pointer with 1:08 to go to give Notre Dame its first lead of the second half (70-68).
Koehler sank two free throws to put the Fighting Irish up 74-70 with four seconds remaining and essentially seal it.
Villanova is looking for a revival after four years without winning a game at the NCAA tournament: A three-year absence followed the sudden retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright and then the Wildcats had a first-round loss to Utah State last season.
“We just had a [tough] loss, but this has been a phenomenal experience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Villanova coach Kevin Willard said.
“To see [the pope’s] love for Villanova. To see what he’s done for the Catholic Church and really for people all over, it was, I don’t have the words to be perfectly honest with you, that’s how special it was. And we’re just blessed that it happened,” Willard added.
Luigi Suigo, the 7-foot-3 Italian who made his Villanova debut on home soil, had two dunks and showed his range with a 3-pointer to finish with seven points.
When he scored, the arena announcer yelled, “Su-su-su Suigo.”
The nonconference game between the two Catholic universities was played at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport, which is located about a half-hour drive from the Vatican.
Villanova had many more fans in attendance for the game, part of a doubleheader with a women’s game between the two schools up next.
Notre Dame faces another Catholic school in its home opener against Mercyhurst on Thursday.
Villanova faces two more Catholic schools in its next two games: The Wildcats play Holy Cross in their home opener on Friday and then meet La Salle four days later.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
