12/13/2003

The Firebird failed to rise from its own ashes on 12/13/03, losing 91-70 after being burned in the Hoyas defensive pressure cooker. Gerald Riley paced all scorers with 28 points. G. Riley also had 5 assists 4 boards and 2 steals while shooting 50 % from the field, 75% from beyond the arc and 82% from the stripe. Brandon Bowman earned the first double-double of his college career with 19 points and 10 rebounds while setting a new career high in assists with 6. Courtland Freeman added 13 tallies while freshman Matt Causey rounded out the quartet in double figures with a career best 11 points.  

            In the opening frame the Phoenix, living up to their name, declined every opportunity to go down in flames. When the Hoyas surged ahead by 15 at the 10:22 mark, Elon mounted a comeback to reduce the differential to 4 by 6:32. The Hoyas, however, would not allow their guests to completely erase the gap and by the end of the period led by 16, 50-34.

            In the second half the Phoenix were plagued by turnovers as the Hoyas? defensive pressure continued to do its work. With 28 minutes played the Phoenix trailed by 27 points and had committed 29 turnovers. Elon tailed by as many as 33 and for the remainder of the game was never closer than 24 until the trey with 00:16 rendered the final gap 21 (91-70).

            For the game, every Hoya saw playing time, Georgetown won the battle of the boards 38-35 and had 17 steals while causing 32 turnovers. The Phoenix did outshoot the Hoyas, 50% (28-56) to 44.3% (31-70).