Key sequence: After a layup and free throw by Penn’s Mark Zoller with 10:25 remaining in the game, the Quakers did not make a field goal during the next 6:02 of play. Penn was charged with four fouls and Mark Zoller turned the ball over twice in one minute during that span. Though Penn took a 72-70 lead with 9:36 remaining, the Quakers could not expand their lead, as Ibby Jaaber missed two free throws on Penn’s next possession. Villanova regained the lead for good on a three-pointer by Scottie Reynolds with 8:18 to go, and expanded its lead to eight before a Steve Danley layup finally ended the Penn field goal drought with 4:23 to play.

Key sequence: In the first 12:40 of the game, Penn ran out to a 36-12 lead. The Quakers shot 13 for 19 from the field (68.4 percent) and 5 for 7 (71.4 percent) from three-point range in that span. It wouldn’t quite be accurate to say Penn never looked back from there, but the Quakers’ lead never dropped below 10 points.

Key sequence: With Penn up 17-14 just over eight minutes in, Syracuse went on a 10-0 run to open up a seven-point lead. The run kicked off a stretch in which the Orange scored 10 times in 12 possessions with a flurry of three-pointers, dunks, layups. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Quakers trailed by 13.

Key sequence: Trailling by one with the ball, Penn used its final timeout with 54 seconds left. Assumably with a two-for-one in mind, Aron Cohen quickly hoisted up an unnecessary — but open — three-point attempt from 25 feet away. The shot missed badly and Penn was forced to foul. Daron Clarke hit the first free throw and missed the second, but Stefon Jackson was able to get his hands on the offensive board and put it back in to make it a 68-64 game with just 23 seconds left.