WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's basketball team (11-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) is set to host its first BIG EAST home game of the season as the Hoyas welcome the St. John's University Red Storm (13-1, 1-1 BIG EAST) to Capital One Arena on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. and a link to live stats is available at GUHoyas.com.
The matchup can be seen live on CBS with Ian Eagle calling the play-by-play, Bill Raftery providing analysis and Jon Rothstein reporting from the sidelines. The game can be heard locally on WOL 1450 AM radio station with Rich Chvotkin on the call.
Saturday's contest also marks the fifth annual Men Against Breast Cancer (MABC) College Game Day. Men Against Breast Cancer (MABC) is the nation's first and only national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to provide targeted support services that educate and empower men to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes a female loved one. Since its founding in 1999, MABC has mobilized men across America, including under-served populations, to be active participants in the fight against breast cancer.
The Hoyas are coming off an impressive 84-76 road victory over the Butler University Bulldogs to open BIG EAST play on Wednesday. Senior
Greg Malinowski (Chantilly, Va. / Episcopal / William & Mary) poured in a career-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field, including an impressive 6-of-7 performance from beyond the arc. Senior
Jessie Govan (Queens Village, N.Y. / Wings Academy) added 17 points while freshman
Josh LeBlanc (Baton Rouge, La. / Madison Prep Academy) chipped in 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and classmate
James Akinjo (Oakland, Calif. / Salesian College Preparatory) tallied 12 to round out those in double figures. Malinowski stuffed the stat sheet as he grabbed a team-best seven rebounds and his quartet of assists led the squad.
Govan leads a trio of Hoyas in double figures averaging 18.2 ppg. Akinjo and
Mac McClung (Gate City, Va. / Gate City) round out those in double figures averaging 14.0 ppg and 12.3 ppg, respectively. LeBlanc leads the team on the glass as he averages 7.7 rpg followed by Govan (7.4). Akinjo's 61 assists are a squad best and the Hoyas lead the league with 17.1 apg. Govan has now scored in double figures in 13 out of 14 contests this year and has helped the Blue & Gray to the third-highest scoring offense (82.5 ppg) in the BIG EAST. The Hoyas also hold the second-highest rebounding average (40.6 rpg) in the conference and rank fourth in blocked shots per game (4.2).
St. John's is coming off a win against No. 16/18 Marquette on New Year's Day. Junior guard
Shamorie Ponds tallied a game-high 26 points and senior forward
Marvin Clark II finished with 22 points while collecting seven rebounds.
Mustapha Heron also logged 16 points for the Red Storm. Ponds leads four players averaging in double figures with 19.2 ppg, which is good for third in the BIG EAST, followed by Heron (15.9 ppg), LJ Figueroa (14.6) and Clark (13.2). Figueroa tops St. John's on the glass, averaging 6.7 rpg.
Saturday's game marks the 112th overall meeting against St. John's, with the Red Storm currently holding the series lead, 58-53. Georgetown swept the regular season series last year as Govan and junior guard
Jagan Mosely (Marlboro, N.J./St. Anthony) each tallied double figures in both contests. The meeting at Capital One Arena was a thrilling double-overtime victory as
Marcus Derrickson scored a career-high 27 points.
Following Saturday's game, the Hoyas will head to Cincinnati for a tilt against the Xavier University Musketeers on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Cintas Center.
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For tickets, please visit WeAreGeorgetown.com or contact the Georgetown Athletic Ticket Office at 202.687.HOYA (4692) or hoyatickets@georgetown.edu.
