Georgetown shook off the fatigue from a long trip back from Alabama, and the aches and bruises from five games in the previous twelve days to blow out NJIT on Saturday, 84-44. Key to the Hoyas’ victory was a 29-2 extended run spanning roughly 10 minutes across the two halves; the push inflated a decent 10-point Hoya margin to a 37-point rout. While Hollis Thompson led the way with 20 points on a career-high 6 three-pointers, Saturday largely was a chance for the freshmen to shine. They made the most of their opportunity: Mikael Hopkins scored 12 points while Tyler Adams scored 8, each taking advantage of superior Hoya size inside to post their respective career highs.
The Hoyas dominated from the tip early Saturday, running out to a 16-2 lead over the first five-plus minutes. Thompson hit three three-pointers during the opening charge, while five other Hoyas added to the early scoring margin. Convinced of their own superiority, the Hoyas settled into some sloppy play, turning the ball over, and missing defensive rotations. NJIT’s Isaiah Wilkerson (15 points) and Ryan Woods (16 points) started to heat up from the perimeter. The lead oscillated between nine and fourteen for the rest of the half, and the momentum gained from the opening run seemed to have vanished.
Just before the half, though, Georgetown locked down on defense and started clicking again on offense. It all started with a Jabril Trawick block on an NJIT break: for the next ten-plus minutes, the poor Highlanders managed just a pair of free throws, while the Hoyas seemed to be hitting everything in sight. Thompson hit another trio of threes, but there was plenty of scoring to go around. By mid-way through the half, JTIII had emptied the bench, allowing the young freshmen plenty of burn and the veterans, undoubtedly weary from six games in under two weeks, a bit of respite.
After a flurry of game activity, the Hoyas now will battle rust, as they play just one game in each of the next two weeks. The pause in the action allows the players to study for finals, and permits us to admire how much they’ve exceeded expectations in their first eight games, vaulting from a preseason prediction of tenth in the Big East to a likely top-20 national ranking in Monday’s poll. The break, interrupted only by games against American and Howard in which Georgetown will be favored, also will give the Hoyas a bit of rest before December 22′s rematch against Memphis, a prelude to an always-tough Big East slate.
For now, though, the Hoyas simply can enjoy an impressive victory. While there was little doubt to the outcome, even before the tip, Georgetown exceeded expectations again Saturday, as they have in every game this season. It’s been a terrific run for the young Hoyas so far, and here’s hoping the best is still to come. Hoya Saxa.
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Basketball Never Stops: Georgetown 84, NJIT 44
Georgetown shook off the fatigue from a long trip back from Alabama, and the aches and bruises from five games in the previous twelve days to blow out NJIT on Saturday, 84-44. Key to the Hoyas’ victory was a 29-2 extended run spanning roughly 10 minutes across the two halves; the push inflated a decent 10-point Hoya margin to a 37-point rout. While Hollis Thompson led the way with 20 points on a career-high 6 three-pointers, Saturday largely was a chance for the freshmen to shine. They made the most of their opportunity: Mikael Hopkins scored 12 points while Tyler Adams scored 8, each taking advantage of superior Hoya size inside to post their respective career highs.
The Hoyas dominated from the tip early Saturday, running out to a 16-2 lead over the first five-plus minutes. Thompson hit three three-pointers during the opening charge, while five other Hoyas added to the early scoring margin. Convinced of their own superiority, the Hoyas settled into some sloppy play, turning the ball over, and missing defensive rotations. NJIT’s Isaiah Wilkerson (15 points) and Ryan Woods (16 points) started to heat up from the perimeter. The lead oscillated between nine and fourteen for the rest of the half, and the momentum gained from the opening run seemed to have vanished.
Just before the half, though, Georgetown locked down on defense and started clicking again on offense. It all started with a Jabril Trawick block on an NJIT break: for the next ten-plus minutes, the poor Highlanders managed just a pair of free throws, while the Hoyas seemed to be hitting everything in sight. Thompson hit another trio of threes, but there was plenty of scoring to go around. By mid-way through the half, JTIII had emptied the bench, allowing the young freshmen plenty of burn and the veterans, undoubtedly weary from six games in under two weeks, a bit of respite.
After a flurry of game activity, the Hoyas now will battle rust, as they play just one game in each of the next two weeks. The pause in the action allows the players to study for finals, and permits us to admire how much they’ve exceeded expectations in their first eight games, vaulting from a preseason prediction of tenth in the Big East to a likely top-20 national ranking in Monday’s poll. The break, interrupted only by games against American and Howard in which Georgetown will be favored, also will give the Hoyas a bit of rest before December 22′s rematch against Memphis, a prelude to an always-tough Big East slate.
For now, though, the Hoyas simply can enjoy an impressive victory. While there was little doubt to the outcome, even before the tip, Georgetown exceeded expectations again Saturday, as they have in every game this season. It’s been a terrific run for the young Hoyas so far, and here’s hoping the best is still to come. Hoya Saxa.
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