Make it two straight losses and a sudden dose of concern for No. 5 Louisville.
Even the best teams lose to Syracuse.
But losing to an unranked and scuffling Villanova team put the Cardinals on notice this season could only get bumpier.
Achraf Yacoubou hit the tie-breaking 3-pointer late in the second half to help Villanova upset No. 5 Louisville, 73-64, on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (12-7, 3-3 Big East) led by as many as 10 points in the first half and rallied late in the second to send the Cardinals to their second straight loss. Louisville (16-3, 4-2) had an 11-game winning streak end in a 70-68 loss to Syracuse on Saturday.
Ryan Arcidiacono scored 15 points, and JayVaughn Pinkston and Mouphtaou Yarou each scored 11 for Villanova.
The Cardinals, who got 15 points and 13 assists from Peyton Siva, are a 71 percent free throw shooting team but were 12 of 24 from the line against Villanova.
“It was really a simple answer as to why we lost. Our free throws were a turnover. Our foul shooting was despicable. Very simple tonight,” Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said.
No. 3 Kansas 59, at Kansas State 55: Travis Releford scored 12 points, and the Jayhawks held off the Wildcats (15-3, 4-1) down the stretch for a victory that gave Kansas sole possession of first place in the Big 12.
Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey added 11 points each for the Jayhawks (17-1, 5-0), who pushed their nation-leading winning streak to 16 games.
No. 13 Michigan State 49, at Wisconsin 47: Keith Appling scored 19 points, and Branden Dawson added 18 to lead the Spartans (17-3, 6-1 Big Ten) over the Badgers (13-6, 4-2).
At No. 14 Ohio State 72, Iowa 63: Deshaun Thomas, who missed part of the second half with a cut above his eye, scored 16 points, and the Buckeyes (14-4, 4-2 Big Ten) built a big lead and then held on to beat the Hawkeyes (13-6, 2-4).
At Wake Forest 86, No. 18 North Carolina State 84: Freshman Devin Thomas had a season-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots as the Demon Deacons upset the Wolfpack (15-4, 4-2 ACC).
Travis McKie added 16 points for Wake Forest (10-8, 3-3), including two free throws with 3.4 seconds left that helped the Demon Deacons hold on in a wild final 41/2 minutes.
At No. 22 Missouri 71, South Carolina 65: Earnest Ross and Jabari Brown hit key 3-pointers in the final 1:1,1 and the Tigers (14-4, 3-2 SEC) overcame 5-for-27 shooting on 3-pointers and a 13-point second-half deficit to beat the Gamecocks (11-7, 1-4).
TOP 25 WOMEN
No. 13 Louisville 64, at Marquette 63: Monique Reid made a fastbreak layup with 7 seconds left to hold off a furious Golden Eagles rally, and give the Cardinals a victory (16-4, 4-2 Big East).
Katie Young had 17 points for Marquette (10-8, 2-3), but missed a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
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