Radnor, PA: There is a certain excitement when you get to play in front of the home fans for the 1st time during the 25-26 season & that is what we saw on Saturday Night as the Villanova Wildcats took on Queens Royals from Finneran Pavilion. At first, when it said that Villanova was going to play Queens, everyone thought of Queens, NY. This is  Queens in Charlotte, NC. This would be the 1st home game for new Villanova Head Coach Kevin Willard. Villanova comes into the game off a loss to BYU.

Lineup:

Tonight’s @NovaMBB starting 5:
Duke Brennan
Matt Hodge
Tyler Perkins
Bryce Lindsay
Acaden Lewis#GoNova #NOVAvsQueens

— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) November 8, 2025

How the game went:

Villanova would score the game’s first 8 points before Queens got on the board, 4 points each from Matt Hodge & Acaden Lewis. Queens is bringing the fight early as they cut the Wildcast lead to 1 at 13-12 with 13:57. Bryce Lindsay would start to heat up with a streak where he scored 8 of 10 points & would take a 33-20 lead with 6:52 left in 1st half. At one point, Villanova would have the lead up to 17 at 39-22 with 5:47 left.

Queens would keep this game in scoring range and capitalize on Villanova mistakes, but the Wildcats would get things figured out for a 51-37 lead at halftime. The Wildcats would come out for the 2nd half with a 6-0 run before Queens got on the board. Queens would still keep this game close as Villanova would lead 67-54 with 11:22 left. Later on in the 2nd half, Tyler Perkins, who would finish with 8 points, would make a great play on defense and score

.@tperk_5 HUSTLIN’ 🫨#GoNova pic.twitter.com/Y2dYfD04N9

— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) November 9, 2025

Queens would go on a run & got the lead down to 10 at 69-59 with 9:50 left. The Wildcats would get things figured out and start to take control, led by Bryce Lindsay & Acaden Lewis. Duke Brennan would have a big game on the glass with a career high 20 rebounds.

Villanova would ride to a 94-74 win & give coach Kevin Williard his 1st win as Head Coach

#Villanova defeats Queens

Kevin Willard gets first win at Villanova head coach #NovaNation #NOVAvsQueens pic.twitter.com/bK8oZWjaWE

— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) November 9, 2025

 

Postgame:

Villanova Coach Kevin Willard

What I asked to #Villanova Coach Kevin Willard after win over Queens #NovaNation #NOVAvsQueens pic.twitter.com/yDVMXdWxLI

— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) November 9, 2025

Queens Coach Grant Leonard

#Queens Coach Grant Leonard Postgame after loss to #Villanova pic.twitter.com/H4BPwfYWwY

— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) November 9, 2025

 

Final Numbers:

What is next:
With the win, Villanova is now 1-1 on the season & will now prepare for Sacred Heart on Tuesday at 7 PM on ESPN+