WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's basketball team hung tight with No. 9/6 Villanova, but ultimately dropped a 76-63 decision on Friday night at McDonough Arena. It was the BIG EAST opener for both squads, with the Hoyas falling to 2-3 overall and the Wildcats improving to 5-1.
 
ON THE RECORD
"I don't think they did much to change the pace of the game. I just thought that we took bad shots. In the first half we had three turnovers, we had nine in the second half. We were doing a good job of getting the ball inside to Q. He missed some easy shots in the second half that he was making in the first half. I think all of those things played a role, and then they got hot." - Head Coach Patrick Ewing on the difference between the first and second halves

HOYA HIGHLIGHTS

• Jamorko Pickett led the Hoyas with his second-consecutive double-double, finishing with team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• Qudus Wahab and Jahvon Blair were both also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• Dante Harris scored a career-high nine points off the bench.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hoyas came out flying, taking a quick 9-4 lead to force an early Villanova timeout. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Pickett pushed GU's lead to double figures at 17-7.
• The Wildcats pulled to within three (19-16), but the Hoyas responded with a 16-3 run over a five-minute span - led by six points from Harris - to go up 35-19.
• Behind 12 points each from Pickett and Wahab, Georgetown went into the locker room at halftime with a 46-33 lead.
• Villanova opened the second half on a 20-4 run, scoring 10-straight points to take a 53-50 lead
• A Chudier Bile jumper cut the lead to one and, following a Villanova free throw, Harris drained a 3-pointer to give Georgetown the lead back at 55-54.
• With the Hoyas holding a 61-60 lead, Villanova scored a quick eight-straight points to go up 68-61 at the final media timeout. Despite a Pickett jumper, the Hoyas could not cut into the lead any further.

 
OF NOTE

• Blair moved into sole possession of eighth place all-time in career 3-pointers on the Hilltop, passing Ashanti Cook with 158.
• Pickett's two 3-pointers put him in a tie for 12th place with DaJuan Summers on GU career list with 145 made treys.

 
UP NEXT FOR THE HOYAS
The Hoyas will remain at home on Sunday to host St. John's in a 7 p.m. matchup at McDonough Arena. The game will be broadcast live on FS1. The St. John's-Georgetown matchup was formed because of COVID issues involving Connecticut, the original opponent.
 
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During the month of December, all Georgetown Men's Basketball home games will be played at McDonough Arena. In accordance with Washington, D.C., regulations which limit the size of in-person gatherings, fans are regrettably not permitted to attend home games at this time.