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It has often been said that defense wins championships. That can be said for Big East Tournament games. The Hoyas opened the first round of the Big East Championship with a 67-63 win over Notre Dame with thanks going almost solely to their defensive effort.
The Hoyas did very little offensively in the first half. They started off a tight in the first and that translated to a dismal 30% from the field in the first frame. Notre Dame kept Georgetown out of rhythm in the first half while lighting it up from beyond the arc to take an 11-0 lead to start. The Fighting Irish shot a whopping 60% in the first 20 minutes. The Hoyas tried to match the hot shooting but couldn’t find the range early; they made just 4 of 14 in the first half. Defense is all that kept the Hoyas as the half ended with the Irish leading 30-27.
The second half for the Hoyas could have been a different game. We start with Brandon whose 25 points was a game high. Bowman scored 14 in the second half with the rest of the team picking it up from beyond the arc. As a team the Hoyas were dead on with 50% from downtown which kept them from trailing for very long in the second.
Defense and hustle has been the key to Georgetown’s success this season. Nothing changed this afternoon in NY. Georgetown had 20 second chance points and 12 points off turnovers. With the defensive intensity turned up in the 2nd, the Irish looked like a twelfth seed and were overmatched by the bigger, stronger more sure handed Hoyas.
John Thompson III while satisfied with the victory knows that there is a lot of work left to do. “…one more tough team tomorrow…” That team is Marquette. Tip-off in Madison Square Garden is set for 2:00 PM.
In other news from the first session a the Garden, Syracuse kept their slim tournament hopes alive, beating Cincinnati 74-73 with a three point shot from Gerry McNamara with .3 seconds left in the contest. McNamara score 17 for the Orange but James White from Cincinnati led all scores with 32 points.
Syracuse will take on top seeded Uconn at noon tomorrow. DC Metrosports will be there to bring you all the action.
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Georgetown 