Schools
Florida State fires Mike Norvell after 6-plus seasons and takes on his nearly $50M buyout
By Katherine Langford
Notre Dame beats Villanova 74-72 in men's college basketball season opener in Rome
Marcus Chen
Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · St. Paul, MN
Marcus manages the day-to-day editorial workflow across all brands, coordinating coverage assignments and ensuring editorial standards are met. He previously served as city editor at the Pioneer Press and holds a degree in Political Science from Carleton College.
More from Marcus →Managing Editor · Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 5:29 PM · 1 min read
ROME (AP) — 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 74-72 in the 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.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 4 seconds remaining and essentially seal it.Villanova is looking for a revival after four years without winning a game at the NCAA Tournament
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