Chris Wright scored 21 points to go with 4 steals, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, leading a balanced effort as Georgetown pulled away from Utah State Saturday, 68-51. Wright, who tied his season high set against Missouri, was the sole double-figure scorer for the Hoyas, who used a full-court press to force the deliberate Aggie offense into 15 turnovers. A half-dozen Utah State turnovers came in the first six-plus minutes of the second half, when the Hoyas’ press spurred a 17-2 run, ballooning their lead to 19 points and effectively putting the game out of reach. Georgetown’s latest victory over a solid non-conference foe ran its perfect record to 8-0. Let’s take a closer look:
- Player of the Game. Wright. One game after dropping 111 against Missouri, a record in the JTIII era, the Hoyas found points harder the come by. Possessions were fewer, as the Aggies milked the clock when they could, and played sticky half-court defense. About half way through the first half, Georgetown switched to a full-court press on made baskets, and Wright pounced, swiping errant passes and finishing on the break. He was a one-man parade to the free-throw line, by Hoya standards, hitting eight of his ten attempts, to go with six of nine from the field. While No. 4 has acted as a facilitator in a number of games this year, he took over in this game.
- Player of the Game, Role Player Edition. Nate Lubick finished with 6 points and 3 rebounds. He looked more comfortable in the offense than ever, connecting with Hollis Thompson (7 points, 4 rebounds) on a beautiful give-and-go in traffic, with Lubick finishing at the rim. Runner Up. Henry Sims, whose development continues, finished with 4 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block. Hank took a couple of ill-advised shots, but has become a deft facilitator in the offense and a reliable presence on the boards.
- Key Sequence. The beginning of the second half. Georgetown had built a nine-point lead in the first half, largely on the strength of their press, but saw the Aggies tie the game on as guard Brian Green (just six points on 2-of-10 shooting) finally started hitting from beyond the arc. Coming out of the intermission up just four, Georgetown turned up the pressure, generating several turnovers and building a lead that stretched to 20 points. Everyone chipped in, with six different Hoyas scoring during the run on a series of lay-ups and open jumpers.
- Key Stat. Personal fouls: the Aggies were whistled for 24 fouls, while the Hoyas were tagged with just 13, leading to 27 free throws to Utah State’s 8. The disparity was particularly surprising given the Aggies’ proficiency at getting to the line in other games (they averaged roughly 28 in their previous six contests), and the Hoyas’ comparative aversion to free throws. Particularly damaging for Utah State’s prospects was the foul trouble of leading scorer Tai Wesley, who was productive in just 20 minutes (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals) before fouling out. Runner Up. Turnovers: Georgetown forced 15 turnovers, most on its press, while committing just 10, a particularly welcome development for a frequently turnover-prone squad. Second Runner Up. Three-pointers: one game after launching 32 treys and converting 15, Georgetown limited itself to nine from long distance, netting just two, a season low. But the Hoyas didn’t need the deep ball, as JTIII said after the game: “Our team has done and is doing a good job of taking what the defense gives you. We don’t have to make the 3s to win games.”
- Conclusion. Unlike the Missouri game, in which Georgetown prevailed even though it was unable to play at its preferred pace, the Hoyas forced the Aggies to run on Saturday, and were able to blow the game open as a consequence. Before the season, several Hoyas, most notably Chris Wright, spoke about the need to bring determination and focus to every game, regardless of the opponent. Georgetown’s methodical dispatching of Utah State, a solid team that, while not as well-known as later opponents, will be in the hunt for a tournament bid, is the latest example of the Hoyas’ execution of that plan. Wright’s second straight 20-plus-point performance aside, Saturday’s game was one of the most balanced Georgetown has had to date, with eight players scoring at least four points but only one scoring more than nine. Next, Georgetown travels Thursday to face a tough Temple squad against which offensive opportunities are always scarce. Similar balance may be necessary to prevail against a rugged team in a hostile arena. Until then, the box score is here.
