Eric Dixon scored 23 points and Jhamir Brickus added 21 as Villanova used a 3-point shooting assault to take down No. 16 Marquette 81-66 on Friday in Philadelphia.

Brickus made five 3-pointers, while teammate Jordann Dumont went 4-for-4 from long distance. Dixon knocked down three triples of his own. As a team, Villanova (16-12, 9-8 Big East) shot a sparkling 15-for-26 from 3-point range, not to mention 18-for-20 from the foul line.

Marquette (20-7, 11-5) was led by Zaide Lowery’s 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting. Lowery also pulled down eight rebounds, while Kam Jones dished out eight assists to go with his 10 points.

Dixon hit a 3-pointer on the game’s opening possession, setting the tone for a long-range explosion by the Wildcats. Brickus then drained three 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch that also included another by Dixon and, just like that, Villanova was ahead 17-4 before 4 1/2 minutes had elapsed.

Marquette stabilized temporarily, but Dumont came off the bench and made back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 34-15.

Dumont added another three shortly thereafter, and then Dixon and Brickus each connected once more from long distance to end the half, sending the Wildcats into the locker room with a 46-33 lead.

As a team, Villanova shot a blistering 12-for-15 from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, Villanova did most of its damage from inside the arc, including a parade to the foul line. The Wildcats made eight free throws in a two-minute stretch to go ahead 61-43 with 12 1/2 minutes left, and then Longino’s 3-pointer sent the lead north of 20 for the first time.

Dixon’s bucket a minute later gave Villanova its largest lead, 66-43.

Marquette responded with 10 straight points, but two free throws by Dixon and a 3-pointer by Longino restored the Wildcats’ momentum.

The Golden Eagles got their deficit down to 13 with 1 1/2 minutes to play, but they never seriously threatened down the stretch.

–Field Level Media