In a surprising upset, Villanova lost to Columbia 90-80 on November 6, 2024, marking Columbia's first victory against a Big East team since 2012.

Columbia, entering the game as 17.5-point underdogs and predicted to finish fifth in the Ivy League, improved to a 2-0 record for the season.

Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa led Columbia with an impressive 22 points, contributing to the team's overall shooting percentage of 53.7% from the field and 92.3% from the free-throw line.

Despite shooting 45% overall, Villanova struggled defensively, with turnovers allowing Columbia to score 90 points.

This defeat marks Villanova coach Kyle Neptune's second consecutive loss to an Ivy League opponent, following a 76-72 loss to Penn last season.

Since taking over the Wildcats, Neptune has now recorded six losses to teams ranked below 100 on KenPom.

Neptune took over Villanova after Jay Wright's retirement in 2022, with the team projected to finish seventh in the Big East and aiming for their first NCAA tournament appearance under his leadership.

Prior to the game, Villanova was ranked 31st on KenPom, and Neptune, who holds a 35-34 record at the school, emphasized the need for improvement before their next matchup against NJIT on November 8, 2024.

Following the home defeat, Neptune expressed the necessity to review game footage to identify and address the team's issues.