Your Georgetown Hoyas (11-10, 3-7 BIG EAST) won their second straight conference game, defeating 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 a certain individual, especially late in the game. This home win snapped a rough four-game losing streak for the Blue Demons.
Malik Mack led the scoring with 16 points/7 rebounds, while an entire squad joined him in double figures, 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 and a block and went 2/3 from beyond the arc. What the stats don’t show is that he delivered at key moments in the game and provided a positive jolt where on other nights things moved in a sharply negative direction. He was huge for Georgetown tonight.
Both teams posted wins, with the Hoyas beating Providence with an incredible comeback at the ex-Dunk this weekend, and DePaul defeating Marquette. Honestly, I went into this game wanting it to be as unlike the first match between these teams as possible, and wondering what the hell I could write if there was a reprise.
At least through the first two possessions, it looked like I was going to get my wish, as Malik Mack finished a driving layup and DePaul threw it out of bounds for a turnover. An ambitious pass led to a sweet fallaway jumper for Julius Halaifonua. The Hoyas pushed forward early, disrupting the Blue Demons offense, and KJ Lewis delivered a suffocating block as they managed to get close to the bucket.
More than three minutes had passed when Smith got DePaul on the board with a triple; Lewis answered with a dunk for the Hoyas. Halaifonua hit again, and C. Williams fired in unassisted off the glass before DePaul scored again.
No significant momentum was passed on to the visitors as Vince Iwuchukwu headed home an alley-turner from Lewis. A steal converted into a layup for J. Williams, reminding the Hoyas what positives come when the turnover differential is in your favor. DePaul converted an alley itself. Georgetown led 16-12 midway through the half.
A series of Hoyas misses allowed the Blue Demons to tie it — a cold streak that could easily have been more damaging if DePaul had gotten a few more lucky bounces. C. Williams buried a three to wake the Hoyas from their long winter nap. DePaul managed a quick field goal, but Mack followed with another triple on the ensuing possession, and a Eurostep finish from Iwuchukwu made it a 5-point lead with 5:35 left in the half.
A floating leave from Mack to Iwuchukwu created a new alley. (Author’s Note: Maybe we’ve had games with multiple successful alley-oops, but two in the first half? That’s got to be rare, at least in the… yikes… almost 22 years I’ve been paying attention to Georgetown basketball.)
With 2:04 left, the Hoyas extended their lead to eight – 29-21 – after 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 led 34-24 at halftime.
It was a challenge not to immediately spiral when DePaul opened the scoring with a three. Isaiah Abraham missed what would have been a monster dunk, then the Blue Demons scored another field goal and triple. The Hoyas lead was cut to two in less than three minutes of play.
Free throws from Mack and a transition three from C. Williams from Kayvaun Mulready and it was another three-possession split. C. Williams also pulled back a controversial rebound, setting up a three for Mulready. DePaul scored a field goal, then Lewis Iwuchukwu drove into the paint for a dunk. Going into the U12 media break, Georgetown led 48-38.
The lead grew to twelve and then shrunk to six as the Blue Demons’ three-point shooting returned to its average and the Hoyas struggled with turnovers. It was C. Williams with a layup to bring drought relief, followed shortly after by a press-induced wide-open dunk from Mulready. Maclin answered with a pair of layups despite suffocating the defensive coverage.
A running triple from Mulready on a well-timed pass from C. Williams swung the pendulum back toward Georgetown. It was 64-55 with 2:12 to play. Maclin again hit from long range for DePaul. Mack made two pairs of free throws; Blocker scored three more 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, calling for a timeout to preserve Georgetown’s possession. A pair more free throws for Mack sealed the score, 70-61 at the buzzer.
Tonight the Hoyas played functional and cohesive basketball. They pressed early and generally defended throughout the shot clock (shout out to Isaiah Abraham for sticking with Gunn/Smith). The absence of major judgmental deficiencies or shooting abnormalities is sufficient.
Assuming they can continue to play in a manner that is largely consistent and fundamentally sound, they will taste victory in a few games. The BIG EAST game is only half over. Get some more wins, guys.
Next, Georgetown travels to meet Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. It starts on Saturday, January 31 at 12 noon and will be broadcast on TNT.
Hoya Saxa. Hoyas win. I really enjoyed the alley-oops.
#BUILD #Hoyas #handle #DePaul #home