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Michigan vs. Villanova game recap: 'Cats hang on to beat the Wolverines

Villanova outlasts Michigan to win the Legends Classic.

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

It had the feeling of a late-March tournament bout as 12th-ranked Villanova collided with No. 19 Michigan in the finals of the Legends Classic.

Back-and-forth went both offenses in a game that would notch either team a notable quality win come Selection Sunday, and in the end, the Wildcats rode their star forward, Jayvaughn Pinkston, and grabbed the victory, and the Legends Classic championship, 60-55.

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Pinkston muscled his way inside to give Villanova (5-0) a one-point lead with 13.4 seconds left, then made an outrageous rejection on Zak Irvin dunk attempt on an inbounds pass with 5 seconds to go. Ryan Arcidiacono would hit four straight at the line to send Nova past Big Blue.

Pinkston didn't have a great day offensively, scoring 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting, his last two field goals coming inside the final minute, but he led the game in rebounds with 9. Tournament MVP Dylan Ennis scored 15 points, and sank a game-high 3 triples.

Caris Levert led the game with 16 points for Michigan (4-1), while pulling down 6 rebounds. Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. both scored in the double figures for the Wolverines.

Villanova will get to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to the Pavilion Sunday afternoon to face the Blue Hens of Delaware.