Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse has been known to be a house of horrors for opponents, including Villanova, and Saturday's meeting between the teams certain extended that narrative. Despite never trailing in regulation, Villanova managed to lose to Butler in double overtime Saturday afternoon.

Things started off well enough for the 'Cats. In fact, they appeared ready to dismiss any concerns over Hinkle magic in the first 10 minutes of the game. Butler missed it's first 10 shots of the game and didn't score its first points until the 13:07 mark. This allowed 'Nova to jump out to an 11-0 lead, and the 'Cats would extend that lead to 17-3 just over eight minutes into the game.

Butler used a 13-4 run to pull within five, but 'Nova maintained control and pushed the lead back to nine heading into halftime.

The Wildcats scored the first four points of the second half to take a 13-point lead before a 6-0 push from the Bulldogs cut it to seven. Butler would get within six before 'Nova was able to extend the lead back to 12 with 7:35 to play.

From there, the Wildcats orchestrated a stunning collapse. Over the final 4:45, the Wildcats were outscored 16-5, watching an 11-point lead disappear as the Bulldogs forced overtime. Over the final 2:44, 'Nova was outscored 10-2. A Butler dunk courtesy of a drive down a wide open lane with five seconds left but the cherry on the collapse, as the 'Cats were unable to get a decent look at a game-winning shot.

'Nova was able to hold a four-point lead with just over two minutes to go in the extra period, but a Butler layup, again with five seconds left and that looked almost exactly like the tying dunk in regulation, once again tied the game and forced a second overtime.

The 'Cats again built a four-point lead with 2:46 to play, only to get outscored 14-3 the rest of the way en route to an inexcusable 88-81 loss.

To summarize: Villanova led by 12 with 7:35 to play, by 11 with 4:45 to play and by eight with 2:44 to play. Still, the game went to overtime. The 'Cats then led by four with 2:04 to go in overtime. Still, the game went to double overtime. Finally, the 'Cats led by four with 2:46 to play in double overtime, before losing by seven. As we noted, 'Nova never trailed in regulation and overall led for 44:46 to Butler's 1:08.

There's not much to say. Villanova needed this game and had itself in prime position to win it. Instead, it pulled defeat from the jaws of victory, and essentially sank its NCAA Tournament hopes in the process. Sure, technically, the 'Cats still have a path to a tournament berth, but after their fourth straight loss and fifth loss in six games, completing that path is incredibly unlikely.

Things don't get any easier, with a date with Marquette next up on Tuesday.