Georgetown 79, UMBC 70
Georgetown survived yet another second half collapse, nearly losing a 17 point lead to prevail in a 79-70 win over UMBC before a small crowd at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
The first four minutes, and the last four minutes, were not easy to watch for Georgetown fans; fortunately, eight minutes do not a regulation game make. The Hoyas started the game shooting 0 for 5 as the Retrievers (3-4) raced to a 7-0 lead and carried a 12-6 lead seven minutes in, driven on points in the paint. Georgetown climbed back in the game on the shooting touch of junior Jay Heath, with 13 of the Hoyas' next 16 points to close to 27-22. Health had back to back threes during a stretch in the first half where the teams combined for five consecutive threes in as many possessions.Back to back three point goals from 6-2 junior Matteo Picarelli put the Retrievers up eight, 27-19, at the 10:46 mark of the first half. Shooting 12 of 19, five for eight from there point range, the UMBC shooting went silent. The Retrievers missed numerous shots they would have made a few minutes earlier, finishing the half 3 for 16 and one of its final 10. This allowed Georgetown, primarily Jay Heath and Primo Spears, to climb back into contention. Health and Spears were a combined 11 for 16 in the first half as Georgetown climbed back and entered halftime tied at 42--the first halftime score this season where Georgetown did not have a lead. The cold winds continued to blow for the Retrievers after halftime. UMBC missed its first 13 shots of the second half, and did not register a field goal until the 12:40 mark of the second half, by which time Georgetown owned a 14 point lead, 58-44. The next seven minutes of the game saw Georgetown play some of its better basketball of the season, holding UMBC in check, keeping the small crowd content, and extending the lead to 17, 71-54, following threes from Akok Akok and Jay Heath at the 5:59 mark. What could go wrong? After surrendering five threes in the first ten minutes, the Hoyas had allowed a total of one UMBC three in the next 24 minutes. UMBC's Jarvis Doles added a three at the 5:21 mark, 71-57, and following a basket by Primo Spears at the five minute mark, Georgetown went cold, missing its next six shots over the next four minutes and raising the indigestion level of those in attendance. By the time UMBC caught its second wind, they were running out of time. Back to back threes from Picarelli closed to 73-65 at the 1:59 mark, where a missed layup by Spears opened the bank for Picarelli once again, 73-68, with 51 seconds left. A quick foul on Heath netted two from the line, 75-68. A Picarelli three was off but the Retrievers' Devan Sapp scooped up the offensive rebound for the put back, 75-70, with 34 seconds to play. This was now too close for comfort. A full court pass to Wayne Bristol put the Hoyas back up seven, and a three point attempt by Sapp with 14 seconds sailed wide, closing out the threat. "I was pleased with the response we got," said head coach Patrick Ewing after the game. "I thought that everybody was focused and locked in and I thought that showed today." Starting guards Primo Spears and Jay Heath combined for 45 points in the game. The Hoyas had 11 threes against a UMBC defense ranked 351st of 352 teams in three point defense. Georgetown's 36 percent second half shooting is a point of concern heading into Wednesday's matchup versus Texas Tech (4-2), where the Red Raiders rank 40th nationally in field goal defense at 37 percent and just 29 percent from three. The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 36 5-12 3-4 1-2 6 6 3 20
Heath 37 4-12 5-6 2-2 4 3 1 25
Bristol 23 1-3 0-2 4-4 6 1 2 6
Akok 32 1-3 2-5 0-0 7 1 3 8
Wahab 29 3-7 0-0 4-4 8 1 1 10
Reserves:
Anglin 7 0-0 0-2 0-0 1 1 0 0
Riley 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Mozone 24 2-4 1-3 1-3 6 2 2 8
Ezewiro 8 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 0 1 2
DNP: Murray, Harris, Mutombo, Bass, Muresan
Team Rebounds 2
TOTALS 200 17-40 11-22 12-15 43 15 13 79
American 74, Georgetown 70
American University, ranked 335th in the NCAA NET rankings, came back from 16 down in the first half to defeat Georgetown for the first time in 40 years, 74-70, at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
The Hoyas have lost three of four games employing a pattern that fan and foe alike were sure would not repeat itself against the Eagles, a mid-level Patriot League team Georgetown has won 11 consecutive games over, the previous year by 22. The pattern is now all too apparent, except perhaps within the coaching staff: a comfortable first half, a complete lack of focus and performance in the second.
The first halves versus Coppin State, Northwestern, Loyola Marymount, and LaSalle all had so much promise. So too on Wednesday versus the Eagles, whose leading scorer, 6-4 guard Colin Smalls, was out of action. The Eagles' signature win this season was a seven point win over William & Mary, itself coming off a 5-27 record last season. American's last win over a Power Five conference school was to DePaul in 2009, one of only three wins by the Eagles over Big East opponents since 1979. The Hoyas had their own injury issues as well. Sophomore transfer Brandon Murray was listed as out of action with what was described as a lower back injury. Those that remained seemed ready for the challenge. Georgetown took man early 7-2 lead before the Eagles rallied to take a brief lead at 11-10. Georgetown responded with a 19-2 run, led by back to back baskets from Ryan Mutombo to start the rally, a 6 for 6 shooting in as many possession, and a Mutombo jumper at the 7:11 mark to lead 29-13.
Following consecutive turnovers, head coach Patrick Ewing called GU's second time out at the 6:05 mark, a stoppage in play that Ewing would have like to have had available later in the game. The Eagles responded with back to back threes, but consecutive possessions by Akok Akok resulted in baskets and the Hoyas took a 10 point lead into the break, 40-30, shooting 48 percent from the field and outrebounding the Eagles 22-12. "We've only played six games, so you can't start abandoning ship. We have a lot more games to go."--Patrick EwingAs s result of some early whistles in the second half, Georgetown found itself in the bonus with 10:51 to play in the game, a usual Thanksgiving bounty for a team that can put the game away at the line. That team, of course, is not Georgetown. Thanks in large part to three consecutive AU turnovers, the Hoyas found themselves on the foul line in there consecutive possessions at the halfway point of the second half and split each of them for a tenuous 55-53 lead. After the Eagles split two from the line, 55-54, Spears went head-long to the basket and came up short. A goaltending call on the other end followed and the Eagles led 56-55 with 8:37 to play. Instead of playing to its strengths inside, the Hoyas settled for a long missed three, answered by a long three from AU's Geoff Sprouse, 59-55, and the air was literally drawn out of the arena. Not again, they said collectively. Not again.
Spears returned to his one on five game and lost the ball, whereupon the Eagles found Jaxon Knotek for a layup, 61-55, now a 14-3 run. This would have been the optimal time for a timeout, except that Ewing had already taken three time outs in the first 29 minutes of the game. Ewing seemed powerless when, following Wahab free throws, Knotek took an open three for a 64-57 lead at the 5:04 mark. "Right now we have bumps in the road and it's all about how are we going to handle these bumps? Are we going to put our head down or are we going to be like rats and run off the sinking ship? Or are we going to step up and get the job done?" --Patrick EwingJay Heath scored eight of the final 11 points of the game, none seemingly more important that a three at the 2:25 mark, 66-64. Again, Wahab's defense forced an AU turnover and again, Spears threw the ball away, his third turnover in the past six minutes of play. A give-and-go to Knotek extended the Eagles' lead to 68-64 with 1:25 to play. At this point, the Eagles had 12 second half assists. Georgetown had one. Where were the adjustments? There were none. Fouled on a drive with 1:08 remaining, Heath could only split the difference, 69-65. An unnecessary three point attempt by American forward Johnny O'Neil earned a hustle play from Sprouse, who alertly connected with center Matt Rogers in the paint for an old-style hook shot to go up 71-65 with 40 seconds remaining. Missed layups by Spears and Bristol brought the Eagles back to the line, with one free throw to lead 72-65. Heath hit what appeared to be a three to close to four, but it was ruled a two pointer and Georgetown's last best hopes for recovery were extinguished. An Denver Anglin three at the buzzer closed the gap, but not the wound. The second half statistics were a textbook example in how not to win a game. Remember, this team was up 16 in the first half and 10 at the break. For the second half, Primo Spears was 1 for 7 with three turnovers. Akok Akok was 1 for 5. Bryson Mozone and Qudus Wahab combined to go 0 for 4. Despite 10 second half turnovers from the Eagles, the Hoyas converted only one steal into a field goal. Let's repeat that: despite 10 second half turnovers from the Eagles, the Hoyas converted only one steal into a field goal. For the half, the Hoyas shot 25 percent from the floor, missed eight of 11 three point attempts, and shot just 65 percent (13-20) from the line. Despite 21 offensive rebounds in the game, the Hoyas converted field goals in only nine of those opportunities. It gave up 22 points off 17 turnovers.
Did Ewing go to the bench? Barely. Four starters played 28 or more minutes overall, with Spears seeing time in 37 of them, despite his poor shooting (4 for 12 Wednesday, 8 for 34 in his last three). Ryan Mutombo had six points and five rebounds by halftime and saw only four minutes thereafter. Denver Anglin played three minutes before halftime and only the last five seconds of the second half. Despite 18 turnovers and the loss of its leading scorer, Wednesday's game was a command performance for the Eagles under Mike Brennan, a somewhat struggling program with one winning season since 2015; sadly, the same could be said for Georgetown. Three Eagles scored in double figures, with Johnny O'Neil (17 points), Geoff Sprouse (16) and Jaxon Knotek (14) combining for 45 points. In last season's game with the Hoyas, O'Neil finished with five points. In contrast to the Hoyas' lack of focus on the foul line, the Eagles were 9 for 11. When asked after the game if the Eagles were on the precipice of winning a game like this entering Wednesday, American head coach Mike Brennan answered matter of factly: no. "To be honest, no, just because [Georgetown's] so formidable," he said. "You try to do as many things as you can to be in a position like that. We had everyone contribute." The win was not only the first since a 63-62 win in 1982 but the Eagles' largest margin over the Hoyas since Feb. 24, 1973, John Thompson's first season. In post game comments, Ewing pointed to focus more than function. "If we want to win we need to be a more together team," he said. "We have to stop having these emotional outbursts and breakdowns as the game goes on...You are going to make mistakes but it's all about what you do after these mistakes and that is something I keep trying to preach to them." Are they listening?
If there are any alarm bells going off at Healy Hall, Ewing will have none of it. We've only played six games, so you can't start abandoning ship," he said "We have a lot more games to go. At some point, everyone has to look at themselves and see what they're not doing or what they're doing, right or wrong, for the team to do better." "Things are going to happen during the year. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll look back at these setbacks and laugh," he added. "But right now, I'm not laughing." Nor are we. The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 37 4-11 0-1 7-8 2 6 0 15
Heath 29 4-8 1-1 1-2 5 2 4 10
Mozone 25 1-2 0-5 3-4 6 1 1 5
Akok 36 2-7 3-6 1-2 6 2 0 14
Wahab 28 2-6 0-0 4-6 9 0 2 8
Reserves:
Anglin 3 0-0 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 3
Riley 11 1-2 0-1 0-0 3 0 0 2
Mutombo 11 3-4 0-1 0-2 5 0 1 6
Bristol 20 2-4 1-3 0-0 2 0 3 7
DNP: Murray, Harris, Ezewiro, Bass, Muresan
Team Rebounds 1
TOTALS 200 19-44 6-19 16-24 39 12 12 70
Wednesday's game attendance was 3,267, third lowest all time for a home game at Capital One Arena.
Georgetown 69, LaSalle 62
The Georgetown Hoyas lost a 25 point lead to LaSalle before a late run led to a 69-62 win in the consolation round of the Jamaica Classic.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
The Explorers, two days removed from a 75-63 loss to Wake Forest, seemed overmatched from the start. LaSalle missed its first six shots and 10 of its first 11 with five turnovers in the first seven minutes, while offering little of no defense, as the Hoyas shot 7 for 10 to open the game. Qudus Wahab and Brandon Murray combined for all of Georgetown's first 15 points.LaSalle closed to 18-8 on its first three pointer of the afternoon, but the Hoyas answered with a crushing 17-2 run, with baskets from four different players but continuing to get easy access to the pivot in Wahab, who had 15 points at halftime, part of a 26-10 advantage GU had in the paint. Leading 35-10 with 3:59 to play in the first half, the Hoyas rolled to a comfortable 20 point lead at the break, 41-21, holding the Explorers to 27 percent shooting and 2 for 12 from three point shooting. The Explorers weren't through, but it seems that the Hoyas were already checking their bags for the airport. LaSalle opened with six straight to close to 14, 41-27, and while the Hoyas maintained a 24 to 18 point lead through much of the first half, its focus on Wahab wavered and sloppy defensive play began to be more apparent. Leading by 22, 56-34 with 14:27 to play, Georgetown would combine for just five field goals for the reminder of the game, while fouls began to limit key contributors. Murray and Wahab were in foul trouble midway in the second half, while Bryson Mozone fouled out with three personal fouls in a 58 second stretch, which saw LaSalle close to 11 with 7:12 to play. A basket by Brandon Murray at the 5:36 mark was the only points as GU shot 1 for 10 as the Explorers scored the next five and forced head coach Patrick Ewing into a timeout with 4:45 remaining, up eight. The break was ineffective, as GU committed back to back turnovers and the Explorers closed to four, 60-56. An Akok Akok tip-in put the Hoyas up six, but Murray's fifth foul closed the lead to three, 62-59, with 2:50 to play. A Primo Spears turnover followed, followed by a three from Jhamir Brickus that tied the score at 62-62 with 1:20 to play. Down 41-21 at the break, LaSalle had now outscored Georgetown 41-21 in the second. The three pointer, while timely, appeared to steer LaSalle away from what had been a successful second half strategy of passing, next-man-up shooting, and taking advantage of mismatches with Georgetown's defensive play inside. After Georgetown went inside to Wahab at the 1:49 mark, 64-62, the Explorers took five straight three pointers and missed them all, part of an 0 for 7 stretch to end the game. Free throws extended Georgetown's final margin to seven. "I thought we started out great," said Ewing in post-game remarks. "We made it a lot tougher than we wanted it to be in the second half but we were able to find a way to win." A win is a win, they say, but the growing concerns about Ewing's second half adjustments will only grow after this one. Georgetown allowed LaSalle to methodically climb back despite being a much less talented opponent, becoming the fourth opponent in the last five to outscore Georgetown after halftime. Wahab led all scorers with 23 points, 15 in the first half. Primo Spears was scoreless from the field in seven attempts, though he played 35 minutes. Three players (Murray, Spears, and Wahab) accounted for 70 percent of all shots taken for the Hoyas. Brickus led the Explorers with 5 for 6 shooting and 14 points, all in the second half. The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 35 0-7 0-0 2-2 3 1 1 2
Murray 24 7-13 0-0 2-2 6 2 5 16
Heath 34 2-5 1-3 2-4 5 3 1 9
Akok 35 2-2 0-1 0-0 10 2 1 4
Wahab 23 8-13 0-1 7-8 7 0 3 23
Reserves:
Anglin 5 0-0 1-2 0-0 1 1 0 3
Riley 17 2-4 0-1 3-3 4 0 2 7
Mozone 14 0-1 1-4 0-0 1 0 5 3
Mutombo 7 1-2 0-0 0-0 3 0 0 2
Bristol 4 0-0 0-0 0-1 2 0 0 0
DNP: Harris, Ezewiro, Bass, Muresan
Team Rebounds 0
TOTALS 200 22-47 3-12 16-20 42 9 18 69
Loyola Mmt. 84, Georgetown 66
Winter has come to Jamaica.Coasting to a 10 point lead at halftime, the Georgetown Hoyas were run out of the Montego Bay Convention Centre by Loyola Marymount in the second half in a 84-66 finish in the first round of the Jamaica Classic.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
Down three players entering the game, the Lions were decided underdogs versus Georgetown. To his credit, LMU coach Stan Johnson did his homework following the Georgetown-Northwestern game, and this game followed the playbook of that finish.The Lions started the game tentative on both sides of the floor, allowing Georgetown to run its offense and take an early 14-8 lead. After missing its first five attempts from the floor from the three point line, Loyola Marymount found the arc, with three consecutive possessions to take a 19-16 lead midway in the first half. The outside shooting hit a wall, and the Lions did not hit another three the remainder of the half. Instead, the Hoyas moved inside, completing a 10-0 run, with four baskets from four different players to take a 26-19 lad at the 7:02 mark. Georgetown had only two field goals for the remainder of the half, but a stellar 14 for 14 at the foul line gave the Hoyas a comfortable 42- 32 lead at the half, shooting 48 percent from the field. The two teams combined to go 3 for 21 from three point range, but there was little from the Lions that suggested the tidal wave of offense which would follow. The Hoyas' problems started at the opening whistle, missing its first seven attempts. Both teams combined to start the second half 1 for 13, but the Lions moved inside and began to pick up points against Wahab and the Georgetown offense. The Lions hit five straight to tie the score at 46 with 13:37 to play. This was the point at which Northwestern's outside shooting began to knock the Hoyas to the canvas, and LMU, after a 3-17 first half and 0 for 1 to start the half from the outside, found their form. Georgetown's lagging perimeter defense allowed the Lions to get to work, and they did. The artillery began with Justin Ahrens, a 6-6 grad transfer from Ohio State. Ahrens hit a three to go up 49-46, Primo missed consecutive shots, and the Lions added two more threes to take a 55-48 lead, a 15-2 run. A Georgetown turnover returned as a dunk on the other side of the floor, followed by a missed three pointer from Jay Heath that LMU converted with a high, arching three from 6-8 transfer Alex Merkviladze, 60-48. Two more Georgetown turnovers followed, with Chance Stephens connecting on the Lions' fifth three in a little over three minutes, 63-48. At this point, Georgetown had shot 2 for 17 in the second half and was outscored 31 to six in the first 11 minutes of the second half. Any adjustments from the bench? None that could be seen. Primo Spears shot 1 for 10 and played all 20 minutes of the second half. Brandon Murray's three pointer with 7:46 to play appeared to stand against the tide, but time and gravity were not on Georgetown's side. A chance to climb back was missed when, after a LMU three point miss, guard Cam Shelton beat out Bryson Mozone for a rebound, feeding Chance Stephens for an open three, 66-51. The Lions led by as many as 19, 73-54, following a three from forward Keli Leaupepe, who was 0 for 3 in its previous game. Baskets by Murray and Jay Heath brought the Hoyas to 13 at the 3:09 mark, but the Lions began to run out the clock, hitting the Hoyas inside (with a layup and a dunk), and outside (back to back threes in the final two minutes). The stunning final saw LMU outscore Georgetown 52-24 after halftime, as the Hoyas shot 27 percent and gave up seven turnovers against eight field goals. Were there any concerns from the small Georgetown fan contingent at the game, you didn't hear it on the broadcast. Were there any concerns from coaching staff, you didn't see it in post-game remarks. "We did a good job in the first half of guarding them at the 3-point line," said head coach Patrick Ewing, "but in the second half, they were able to make a significant amount more." "They hurt us in transition when we got back and weren't matched up and then, you know, we didn't do a good job of getting out to them at the 3-point line." This game continues a bad narrative on a Georgetown team that lacks teamwork and forces bad shots. Friday's exhibit was guard Primo Spears, shooting 1 for 10 after halftime and 4 for 17 on the afternoon. The Hoyas managed just four assists in the second half. Georgetown advances, if you can call it that, to a consolation game Sunday versus LaSalle, who lost to Wake Forest 75-63 in the earlier game today. "The reality of the situation is that there remains a stigma when teams see us on their schedule," writes the recap at Casual Hoya. "It's been this way since as early as 2008. Years ago we put fear into the hearts of everyone, now players see us on the schedule and believe they hit the lotto." The Georgetown half of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 36 4-15 0-1 2-2 4 3 3 10
Murray 38 4-10 3-8 2-2 2 2 3 19
Mozone 14 0-2 0-2 0-0 1 0 0 0
Akok 33 1-2 0-4 0-0 10 1 2 2
Wahab 23 2-2 0-0 8-8 3 0 2 12
Reserves:
Heath 31 5-8 0-2 5-6 4 1 3 15
Riley 12 1-1 0-0 2-2 2 0 2 4
Mutombo 3 2-2 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 4
Bass 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Bristol 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
DNP: Harris, Anglin, Ezewiro, Muresan
Team Rebounds 3
TOTALS 200 19-42 3-16 19-20 32 7 17 66
Northwestern 75, Georgetown 63
After just 15 threes in its first two games combined this season, the Northwestern Wildcats went for 14 threes on an unsuspecting Georgetown Hoyas defense, taking a surprisingly easy 75-63 win before 5,518 at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
A team with limited outside effectiveness, the Wildcats opened the game with three three-pointers in the first three minutes of play; yet, for much of the first half it seemed this was the Wildcats' only weapon. As Georgetown was outrunning Northwestern on every turn, the Wildcats kept close from outside, and did not actually make a two point field goal for over nine minutes to open the first half, but still led 15-13.An important turn in the game followed midway in the first half. Northwestern center Tydus Verhoeven was in early foul trouble and was replaced by Matthew Nicholson, a 7-0, 255 pound senior with just 36 points entering the season. In 13 minutes, Nicholson had nine points and nine rebounds, helping stabilize a shaky inside game for the Wildcats and preventing the kind of second half chances that could allow Georgetown to run away in this one early. In a first half where no one led by more than four points, Georgetown was held to just four second chance points in a 35-33 lead at halftime. Northwestern's threes kept them in the game--the Wildcats were just 4 for 17 from two point range at the break, and starting guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige were a combined 1 for 10. The two emerged to carry the game in the second. An opening basket by Primo Spears built the GU lead to four, 37-33, its largest lead thereafter. Down 42-40 at the 16:36 mark, the Wildcats went on a 13-2 run behind eight straight from Audige in just 66 seconds of play. Back to back layups from Spears closed to five, 49-44, but another three punched the lead back to eight, and the Hoyas could make no more headway. Following a Northwestern timeout with 7:42 to play, up seven, Buie went to work. The senior guard scored the next seven for Northwestern as the Wildcats stayed ahead, and a three from Robbie Beran pushed the lead to 13 with 3:37 remaining. No frenzied comeback followed. No full court press or three pointers punctured the deficit. Anchored down by a season low shooting output from Brandon Murray, who missed 10 consecutive attempts before a late basket, the Hoyas missed 10 of its final 12 attempts of the game. More surprising, perhaps, was getting thoroughly beat on the boards: 22 to 12 after halftime, 48 to 31 overall. Shooting just 35 percent in the second half, Georgetown managed two points off second chance opportunities and only one basket on the break. Despite a season low of five turnovers after the break, the Hoyas offense was, in head coach Patrick Ewing's words, "stagnant"; yet, just two reserves saw action after the break. Spears led all Georgetown scorers with 22 points. Jay Heath, a day removed from receiving an NCAA eligibiliy waiver, scored nine firs half points and 13 overall. Brandon Murray finished with five points while Qudus Wahab had just two points after halftime and six overall. Akok Akok, with 10 points in the first half to lead all Georgetown scorers, did not take a single shot in the second. It's a short turnaround for the Hoyas, who travel for the Jamaica Classic with a game Friday afternoon against Loyola Marymount (2-1). The Lions last met the Hoyas three years ago at the same Jamaica Classic, leaving with a 65-52 win. The Georgetown portion of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 39 8-16 1-4 3-3 1 6 1 22
Murray 38 0-4 1-6 2-2 3 3 3 5
Mozone 26 1-2 1-4 0-0 3 0 2 5
Akok 37 1-1 2-4 2-2 7 0 2 10
Wahab 19 3-5 0-0 0-0 7 0 2 6
Reserves:
Heath 30 3-5 2-4 1-3 4 2 2 13
Riley 8 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 0 1 2
Ezewiro 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 2 0
Bristol 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
DNP: Harris, Anglin, Mutombo, Bass, Muresan
Team Rebounds 2
TOTALS 200 17-35 7-22 8-10 31 11 16 63
Heath Returns To Lineup
A second convenience transfer waiver for junior guard Jay Heath received NCAA approval Monday, clearing the way for him to play in Tuesday's game.Heath, who played high school basketball at Wilson HS in Washington DC, transferred after two years at Boston College and transferred a second time from Arizona State to Georgetown this past spring. Absent extenuating circumstances, the process was extended by the NCAA, which has not otherwise denied a waiver to Georgetown in over 20 years.Also available in the lineup: sophomore Brad Ezewiro, who enters the lineup for the first time Tuesday following recent dental surgery. The status of junior guard Dante Harris remains undisclosed. Georgetown 92, Green Bay 58
A big second half led Georgetown to a 92-58 win over Green Bay at Capital One Arena.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
With the lowest ranking of any scheduled opponent this season, Georgetown was a prohibitive favorite, even if the first half didn't show it. After an season opener marred by early foul trouble on center Qudus Wahab, the Phoenix were ill-equipped to put any pressure on Wahab in this one, and he responded in kind, scoring seven of the Hoyas' first 12 points on a timid 6-8 Brock Heffner, who was 0 for 3 in the first half and finished 1 for 5 in the pivot. Wahab finished with a team high nine at the half, but the Hoyas were falling back into a pattern of turnovers that kept the Phoenix competitive.A pair of Georgetown turnovers keyed a 7-0 Green Bay run, 19-12, answered by a 9-0 Georgetown run that stretched to 17-3 and a 29-22 lead. Primo Spears scored seven of the Hoyas' final 12 points of the half, but 10 first half turnovers gave Green Bay room for a late comeback, closing to 31-29 at the break. The second half opened with a a statement from the Hoyas, an 8-0 run with baskets from Wahab and Spears to go up 39-29. The defensive play of the Phoenix that was seen in the first half evaporated in the Capital One Arena ventilation system, because the Hoyas turned the second half into a Kenner League exhibition. A missed hook shot from Wahab was the only miscue in the Hoyas' first ten possessions, taking a 50-365 lead. Despite 50 percent shooting by the Phoenix, the Hoyas were scoring at will. Back to back jumpers from Bryson Mozone put the Hoyas up 18 at the 12:18 mark, 54-36, and a 10-0 run midway in the half pushed the lead to 25, 66-41. With Green Bay's defense lacking, Georgetown scored at will, with an unusual twist for a Hoya offense: the team committed just one turnover after halftime in a 61 point second half, the most in a second half since a December 2000 game versus Howard. Spears led all scorers with 21 points, 14 after halftime on a 7-8 pace. Brandon Murray also picked up the pace after the break, with 12 of his 19 points on the afternoon. The turnout of 4,583 at Capital One Arena saw a career high 11 points from sophomore Jordan Riley off the bench, as well as nine from Wayne Bristol, all in a second half which saw the Hoyas shoot 70 percent from th field (26-37) versus a 38 percent mark from the Phoenix. Georgetown had 35 possessions in the final 20 minutes, and scored on 28 of them. Clarence Cummings III led the Phoenix with 14, but with only five points after halftime. In post-game remarks, Ewing brought sophomore Brandon Murray to the press conference, saying that "It's not about the scoring, it's about defense and this kid right here, he makes all the right plays." "It is nothing specific I've been working on," Murray said. "I can just make the right reads and see the court really well, that has been helping me." The outcome never made it to the issues of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, whose Sunday sports page focused on two teams of considerable local interest: the hometown Packers and the University of Wisconsin Badgers, who dropped to 5-5 with a loss to Iowa. For the Phoenix, which has lost 27 of its last 32, they live for another day as they travel to take on the Badgers in basketball before their bracket in next week's Jamaica Classic. The Georgetown portion of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 36 9-11 0-2 3-5 3 5 2 21
Murray 32 4-8 3-4 2-3 4 7 1 19
Mozone 28 2-4 0-1 0-0 7 1 0 4
Akok 28 0-1 1-1 0-0 4 2 2 3
Wahab 22 8-12 0-0 2-4 7 0 1 18
Reserves:
Anglin 6 1-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 2
Riley 20 4-6 1-2 0-2 6 0 3 11
Mutombo 6 1-1 0-0 1-1 1 0 1 3
Bass 3 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 2
Bristol 15 0-0 3-3 0-0 3 2 3 9
Muresan 1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
DNP: Harris, Heath, Ezewiro
Team Rebounds 2
TOTALS 200 30-47 8-14 8-15 38 19 13 92
Field Of 68: Hot Seat TalkThe Field of 68 podcast spent 25 minutes on Thursday discussing the state of the Georgetown program, and more than just the head coach: arena, NIL, and community support, among others. Check it out:Team USA In DC
Former Georgetown center Henry Sims (C'12) is among three local products competing in qualifying games for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup this weekend.Per a release, "The USA will play two games as part of their fifth qualifying window (out of six total) leading into the 2023 FIBA Men's World Cup. The United States plays host to Brazil on Friday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. before hosting Colombia on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. ET. Both games will be played at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington D.C. Tickets are available here."Following graduation in 2012, Sims saw action with four NBA teams from 2013 through 2016 and, more recently, portions of four seasons in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A. Georgetown 99, Coppin State 89
A 28 point effort from Amir (Primo) Spears saved Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas from civic and national embarrassment, as the Hoyas needed overtime to get past Coppin State, 99-89, ending a 21 game losing streak.
POST-GAME ARTICLES
Starting five newcomers in a season opener for the first time in 76 seasons, Georgetown started off strong, opening a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes of play. Early foul trouble on returning center Qudus Wahab stalled the Hoyas inside, while lax defense opened a door for the Eagles that they had been unable to exercise in last evening's loss to Charlotte: three point shooting. Coppin was 3 for 22 in Monday's game and lost by 23. Midway through the first half, the Eagles had already matched this, and its fourth three of the half gave the Eagles a 25-24 lead with 8:10 to halftime.With Wahab on the bench, Georgetown got a strong first half from UConn transfer Akok Akok, with six points and three blocks in a first half that saw the Hoyas and Eagles each shoot 11 for 28, with the Hoyas' 11-14 run at the free throw line earning it a two point lead at the break, 36-34, despite six threes from the Eagles by halftime. The first seven minutes of the second half followed many of the same patterns of the first. Coppin State made gains from the perimeter but never sent anyone to the boards, so Georgetown maintained dominance in rebounding. However, the Georgetown guard play had noticeably stalled, relying on Akok and grad transfer Bryson Mozone to carry the weight. Wahab's fourth foul at the 13:35 mark put Coppin State up five, 53-48, answered by a pair of baskets rom Akok to tie the score at the 12:05 mark, 53-53. The Hoyas' defense went to sleep from outside, as back to back threes gave the Eagles a 59-53 lead a the 10:00 mark. A 7-2 run led by Akok and Mozone closed the count to 61-60 with 7:07, and neither team took could pull away down the stretch. Entering the game, the Hoyas had won 100 straight games from historically black colleges and universities, and the 101st was now in some danger. Having tied the score three times over a two minute period, Spears began to carry the Hoyas to the finish line. A Spears steal and three pointer put the Hoyas up 71-68, extended to five at 73-68 with a Mozone jumper. But the Hoyas could not contain the Eagles, who scored five straight to tie the score with 3:14 to play, and back and forth they went. Tied at 78 with 1:14 remaining, Spears scored the next five points to put GU up five, 83-78, part of a run where he had scored 15 of the Hoyas' last 17 points. The Eagles closed to three with );17 remaining and fouled Brandon Murray, who then missed two free throws. After a long miss for a tying basket with 0:03 remaining, Coppin State forward Mike Ford, 0 for 5 in the game, got the rebound and sank a three at the buzzer to force overtime. The Eagles shot just two for seven in overtime, giving the Hoyas room to pull away. Bryson Mozone scored on consecutive series to put the Hoya s up 91-85, and Georgetown finally gained some much needed breathing room with an Akok three with 1:14 remaining, 94-87. Aside from Spears and Brandon Murray (18 points), some warning signs for this team emerged. Qudus Wahab was in early foul trouble, and fouled out in the final four minutes. The Hoyas had 18 turnovers in a game that it owned a 51-36 advantage on rebounds but could not defend the perimeter. Georgetown's talent won out in the end, but its opponent was ranked just 308th nationally, ahead of only Green Bay (351st) on the upcoming schedule. "We made mistakes, we got down, we fought back and were able to come out with the win," said head coach Patrick Ewing in post-game comments." "I thought our flow of the game was top tier in the last 12 minutes and overtime," said Spears. [Brandon Murray] getting to his spots, Akok getting shots, [Murray] had eight assists and was drawing a lot of attention so he was finding guys. That was a key for us because it opened a lot of lanes." The Georgetown portion of the box score:
MIN 2FG 3FG FT REB A PF PTS
Starters:
Spears 43 9-17 1-2 7-9 6 4 2 28
Murray 44 4-16 3-5 1-6 6 8 2 18
Mozone 41 6-8 1-6 5-5 7 0 3 20
Akok 42 5-5 2-4 2-2 12 2 3 18
Wahab 15 2-5 0-0 7-7 10 0 5 11
Reserves:
Anglin 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Riley 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0
Mutombo 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
Bristol 29 1-2 0-1 2-3 5 0 5 4
DNP: Harris, Heath, Ezewiro, Bass, Muresan
Team Rebounds 3
TOTALS 225 27-53 7-18 24-32 51 14 21 99
Tuesday's opener drew 7,125 Tuesday evening versus Coppin State. The number is down from the 8,641 who attended the Saturday afternoon opener versus Dartmouth last year, but otherwise a good number considering the late start on Election Day. Craig Esherick Interview
In his most extensive interview since leaving Georgetown two decades ago, former coach Craig Esherick (B'78, L'82) participated in an hour long podcast interview with Julian Brown.Esherick, now 66, is an associate professor at George Mason University. He has kept a low profile over the years and has not spoken in detail about his Georgetown experiences in public conversations such as this. The podcast discusses his experiences as an All-Met high school player in Montgomery County, his recruitment by John Thompson and his playing career from 1974-1978, and rejoining the program as an assistant coach after law school, where he coached through 2004."Craig Esherick was a key figure in some of the greatest moments in Georgetown basketball history as player, assistant coach, and head coach," Brown said. "Coach Esherick takes us on his amazing journey alongside many of the great players and coaches of the DC area." Lots of good stories here...recommended viewing. Harris, Heath Out For Opener
The growing uncertainty of junior guard Dante Harris continues.
As noted last week, Having averaged 11.9 points last season and the only returning starter from the 2021-22 season, Harris had started 50 consecutive games since graduate student Jalen Harris (no relation) took a break from the team in December 2020 for what Ewing called at the time a "family issue". He did not return to the team, and has not played anywhere since. Absent a statement to the affirmative. junior Jay Heath appears out as well without an NCAA waiver. James A. Larkins (1931-2022)
Jim Larkins (C'53), a two year letterman on Georgetown teams of the early 1950's, died Tuesday at the age of 91.An All-Met selection from Gonzaga, Larkins played sparingly in two seasons for the Hoyas, seeing action in just six games over two seasons from 1950 through 1953. Following graduation, he served two years in the U.S. Army before beginning a career with the Burroughs Corporation, later founding a word processing business in he Philadelphia area. In 1998, he was named to the Gonzaga College High School Hall of Fame.Married for 68 years, Larkins is survived by his wife, five children, and 12 grandchildren. Additional details can be found at this obituary notice. |