Wednesday, January 20, 2016

GEORGETOWN DROPS NO. 5 XAVIER, 81-72

By Mark Bacon

Georgetown finally got a breakthrough win.

  • Sophomore Tre Campbell scored a career-high 21 points — 17 in the first half — and Georgetown's front line dug in as the Hoyas built a double-digit lead in the second half and held on for an 81-72 victory over No. 5 Xavier on Tuesday night.
  • The Hoyas (12-7, 5-2 Big East) pulled ahead 39-33 at halftime behind Campbell's big game and led by as many as 11 in the second half while sending the Musketeers (16-2, 4-2) to their first home-court loss of the season. Senior D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera had 20 points for Georgetown, 15 in the second half.
  • "It's really big," Smith-Rivera said. "It's the first time we've won here and my last time playing here."
  • The Hoyas have folded in the second half against top teams and wound up with close losses. This time, they kept their poise.
  • "I told these guys before the game: 'We've been close but here's another opportunity,'" coach John Thompson III said. "To come in here and win against this team — they're playing at such a high level now — feels good. We're now over a hump and we'll proceed from here."
  • Xavier won all three games against Georgetown last season, including a matchup in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The Hoyas' front line, led by Bradley Hayes, dug in and got a different result, out-rebounding Xavier 39-35. 

BACON’S BITS: 

  • Georgetown: The Hoyas are 2-3 against ranked teams this season.
  • In Charlottesville, Virginia sank streaking Clemson last night, 69-62.
  • In College Park, Maryland held off pesky Northwestern to win in OT, 62-56.


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