Villanova Wildcats are NCAA National Champions
Villanova Wildcats win the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
They overcame Michigan's early 7-point lead by halftime and won 79-62
March Madness 2018 came down to two teams: The Villanova Wildcats vs. the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA national championship game Monday night. The Wildcats were 6.5 point favorites to take home their third title and their second one in the past three years, but the Wolverines were looking to take home college basketball's top honor for the first time since 1989.
NCAA Championship live updates from Monday:
NCAA Championship trophy presentation
Donte DiVincenzo - Most Outstanding Player
DiVincenzo set the record for the most points for a player off the bench in NCAA National Championship history. He scored 18 in the first half and finished with 31 on the night.
He was awarded Most outstanding player on the night.
Donte DiVincenzo stats:
- 31 points
- 10/15 field goals
- 6/10 free throws
- 5/7 three-pointers
- 3 assists
- 5 rebounds
- 37 minutes
Villanova Wins! 79-62
Villanova wins their third NCAA title.
Donte DiVincenzo is the leading scorer with 31 points. He shot 10/15, 5/7 from 3-point land.
Villanova has its largest lead - 20 points
Mikal Bridges hit two free throws and hits a 3-point jumper just 37 seconds later. After Wagner commits a shooting foul, Gillespie hits his both his free throws.
After some tire Wolverine legs turn the ball over again, Bridges sunk another 3-pointer.
With exactly 5 minutes left, the Wildcats have extended their lead to 20.
3:21 left, commercial timeout called.
It's all Donte DiVincenzo
DiVincenzo hits 24 points; Wildcats up by 18
DiVincenzo does it all. After a 2-handed block, he scored the next nine points for Villanova: a lay-up, a free throw and two more shots from 3-point land.
30-second timeout called. Villanova leads 62-44.
12-minute Timeout
The game has been back-and-forth and Michigan is starting to get some buckets.
Wagner is still leading the Wolverines with 14, but Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman has contributed 13 for the team.
DiVincenzo hasn't hit a bucket this half yet. But Mikal Bridges is 5/9 with 11 points for the Wildcats.
Rebounds
Rebounds continue to be the difference in the game. Villanova has 29 to Michigan's 16. The Wildcats have 18 defensive and 11 offensive boards.
Coach's pep talk
During the 12-minute timeout, Michgan coach John Beilein told Mo Wagner needs to get more involved.
Villanova extends their lead to 15
15:24 left in the game.
The game is getting chippy. Unsportsmanlike technical fouls called on both teams: Villanova's Omari Spellman and Michigan's Moritz Wagner.
48-33, Villanova up on Michigan
TV Timeout: Michigan up by 14
Michigan opened the second half with a quick 2-point bucket. Villanova countered with seven unanswered points.
Villanova up 44-30 over Michigan, 18:03 to go in the game.
The 14-point deficit is Michigan's largest all tournament.
First-half stats
Top Scorer:
Donte DiVincenzo has 18 points. He's 7-of-10 from the field and has hit three of this four three-point attempts.
Fun fact: Villanova is 11-0 all-time when he scores 18 or more.
Michigan:
Moritz Wagner has 11 and Abdur-Rahkman has 10, including a 3-pointer for Michigan.
Box score:
Field Goals:
Michigan is 11/28; Villanova is 14/31
3-pointers:
Michigan is 2/13; Villanova is 4/13
Free throws:
Michigan is 4/7; Villanova 5/6
Rebounds:
Michigan has 13; Villanova has 20
Turnovers:
Michigan: 3, Villanova: 5
Fouls:
Michigan: 9, Villanova: 7
Halftime score: Villanova 37, Michigan 28
Michigan's largest lead was seven points, up 21-14 at one point. Then Villanova found a way to get their shots to drop into the hoop and went on a 23-7 run.
Timeout Wildcats
Jalen Brunson sinks a 3-point jumper with 12 seconds left to give Villanova a 9-point lead.
Timeout Wildcats with 12.3 seconds left.
Commercial timeout called
3:59 left in the first half.
Villanova has finally gotten their shots to go down. They have now hit 11 of their 25 shots and are 3-for-11 from three-point land. Michigan is 10-for-21 from the field so far, hitting 2-of-10 outside the arc.
Score at the TV break: Michigan 26, Villanova 30.
Villanova takes the lead
6:07: After over five minutes of no scoring, DiVincenzo makes a 3-point jumper for the Wildcats, giving them the lead for the first time since the opening bucket.
Abdur-Rahkman got two back for Michigan. But Jordan Poole fouls and Spellman makes both free throws for Villanova, reclaiming the 2-point lead.
Timeout on the court
Michigan's defense is all over Villanova and their physical game is on, as they lead with five fouls to Villanova's three.
Villanova misses another three-point shot. They're 1-for-9 from 3-point land tonight. Michigan is 2-for8 outside the arc.
At the TV timeout, there's 7:32 left in the first half. Michigan up by three over Villanova, 21-18.
Top scorer so far: Moritz Wagner with 11 points.
18-14 Michigan
After the break, Teske is now in for Wagner. Robinson in for Livers.
After setting the record for most three-point shots in a Final Four game on Saturday, DiVincenzo finally hits one. Villanova is now 1-for-4 from outside the arc.
Michigan, however, is hitting them from downtown tonight.
First TV timeout
15:32: Villanova has missed a chance to score on three of their last four possessions. Bridges finally knocks down two for Villanova
First TV timeout with 13:56 left in the first half. Michigan up 11-8 over the Wildcats.
Tip off!
9:20 p.m. The tip went to Villanova who takes it right down for a quick opening score. Jalen Brunson got the opening basket.
Michigan came right back down the court and Moritz Wagner got a layup to tie the game back up.
Back and forth again, Brunson came down the court to give Villanova the lead. Michigan back down and Wagner is fouled on his shot and sank both of his free throws to tie it back up at 4 apiece.
Moment of silence for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prior to the national anthem, everyone was asked to stand as a moment of silence was held to remember the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The Star Spangled Banner was played by the United States Air Force Band of Texas while a flag was raised by members serving at Joint Base San Antonio and firefighters descended by ropes from the ceiling.
Villanova, Michigan announce their starting 5
9:01 p.m.: The two teams have announced their starting 5 players ahead of the matchup Monday night.
Villanova: Brunson, Paschall, Bridges, Booth, Spellman
Michigan: Wagner, Matthews, Abdur-Rahkman, Livers, Simpson