Your Georgetown Hoyas (11-10, 3-7 BIG EAST) won their second consecutive conference game, vanquishing the DePaul Blue Demons by a score of 70-61. It was a balanced performance, with strong contributions from the expected cadre, as well as a power boost from one particular individual, especially late in the game. This home win snapped a […]
Your Georgetown Hoyas (11-10, 3-7 BIG EAST) won their second consecutive conference game, vanquishing the DePaul Blue Demons by a score of 70-61. It was a balanced performance, with strong contributions from the expected cadre, as well as a power boost from one particular individual, especially late in the game. This home win snapped a rough 4-game losing streak to the Blue Demons.
Malik Mack led the scoring with 16 points/7 rebounds, with a whole crew joining him in double-digits, including Vince Iwuchukwu, Caleb Williams, and Julius Halaifonua. KJ Lewis was all over the court, with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and a block.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about Kayvaun Mulready. He tripled his season stats for minutes played, points scored, and rebounds grabbed. He added an assist, a steal, a block, and went 2/3 from beyond the arc. What the stat sheet is not set up to capture is that he delivered at high-value junctures within the game, providing a positive jolt where things have on other evenings trended in a sharply negative direction. He was huge tonight for Georgetown.
Both teams were coming off wins, with the Hoyas knocking off Providence with an incredible comeback at the ex-Dunk over the weekend, and DePaul taking down Marquette. Honestly, I went into this game wanting it to resemble the first matchup between these teams as little as possible and wondering what on earth I could write if there was a reprise.
At least the first two possessions made it seem like my wish was to be granted, as Malik Mack finished a driving layup and DePaul chucked it out of bounds for a turnover. An ambitious pass led to a sweet fallaway jumper for Julius Halaifonua. The Hoyas pressed early, unsettling the Blue Demons offense, and KJ Lewis delivered a stifling block when they did manage to get near the bucket.
More than 3 minutes had elapsed when Smith got DePaul on the board with a triple; Lewis answered with a dunk for the Hoyas. Halaifonua hit again, and C. Williams banked an unassisted shot in off the glass before DePaul scored again.
No significant momentum was ceded to the visitors, as Vince Iwuchukwu put home an alley-oop from Lewis. A steal converted to a layup for J. Williams, reminding the Hoyas of what positive things arise when the turnover disparity is in your favor. DePaul converted an alley-oop of their own. At the midway point of the half, Georgetown was ahead 16-12.
A series of Hoyas misses allowed the Blue Demons to tie it up- a cold streak that could easily have been more damaging if DePaul got a few more lucky bounces. C. Williams buried a three to rouse the Hoyas from their long winter’s nap. DePaul managed a quick field goal, but Mack followed with another triple on the subsequent possession, and a euro-step finish by Iwuchukwu made it a 5-point lead with 5:35 left in the half.
A floating leave from Mack to Iwuchukwu set up another alley-oop. (Author’s Note: Maybe we’ve had games with multiple successful alley-oops, but two in the first half? That has to be rare, at least in the…yikes…nearly 22 years I’ve been paying attention to Georgetown basketball.)
With 2:04, the Hoyas extended their lead to eight — 29-21 — on a near turnover that was first saved by Lewis, then by Mack, and finally put away by Jayden Fort. Mack added a pair of free throws to create the first double-digit gap. Pierre and Halaifonua traded baskets from beyond the arc. Georgetown was up 34-24 at the half.
It was challenging not to immediately begin spiraling when DePaul opened scoring with a three. Isaiah Abraham missed what would have been a monster dunk, then the Blue Demons notched another field goal and a triple. The Hoyas lead had been cut to two in less than 3 minutes of gameplay.
Free throws from Mack and a transition three from C. Williams from Kayvaun Mulready and it was again a three-possession split. C. Williams also repossessed a contested rebound which set up a three for Mulready. DePaul managed a field goal, then Lewis fed Iwuchukwu driving into the paint for a dunk. Going into the U12 media break, Georgetown was up 48-38.
The lead grew to twelve then shrunk to six as the Blue Demons’ three point shooting reverted to their mean and the Hoyas struggled with turnovers. It was C. Williams with a layup to bring drought relief, followed soon after by press-induced wide-open dunk from Mulready. Maclin answered with a pair of layups, despite smothering defensive coverage.
A running triple from Mulready off a well-timed pass from C. Williams, swung the pendulum back toward Georgetown. It was 64-55 with 2:12 to play. Maclin hit again from long range for DePaul. Mack drilled two pairs of free throws; Blocker made another three for the Blue Demons. 68-61 with 45 seconds left.
Mulready poked loose a steal, then recovered the ball and wrestled it free from DePaul while calling for a timeout to maintain Georgetown possession. Another pair of free-throws for Mack sealed it, 70-61 at the buzzer.
Tonight, the Hoyas played functional and cohesive basketball. They pressed early and generally defended through the entire shot clock (shoutout to Isaiah Abraham for sticking on Gunn/Smith). The lack of major judgment deficiencies or shooting anomalies is enough.
Assuming they can continue to play in a way that is mostly consistent and fundamentally sound, they will taste victory in a few more games. BIG EAST play is only half over. Get some more wins, guys.
Next up, Georgetown travels to face Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. That one tips off at Noon on Saturday 1/31, airing on TNT.
Hoya Saxa. Hoyas win. I really enjoyed the alley-oops.
Category: General Sports
