The Georgetown University men’s basketball team fell 66-51 to the Villanova University Wildcats following a disastrous second half on Jan. 21, extending the Hoyas’ discouraging conference losing streak to seven games.
From the opening tip, Georgetown (9-10, 1-7 Big East) Head Coach Ed Cooley planned to match Villanova’s (15-4, 6-2 Big East) fast-paced offensive scheme, emphasizing quick decision-making and transition opportunities. The game plan revealed itself when the Hoyas scored the first bucket, as junior guard Malik Mack pitched the ball ahead to sophomore forward Caleb Williams for a 26-foot transition three to give Georgetown an early 3-0 lead.
On the Hoyas’ next possession, sophomore forward Isaiah Abraham knocked down another 3-pointer, putting pressure on the Wildcats’ transition defense. Despite the hot start, both teams struggled offensively for the next 10 minutes.
Georgetown found it difficult to attack the basket and get paint touches because of Villanova’s intense gap defense, which allowed the Wildcats to force turnovers and deflections. Senior center Vince Iwuchukwu and sophomore center Julius Halaifonua struggled when pressed with double teams, leading to many broken plays.
Nonetheless, Georgetown kept the game close by limiting Villanova’s 3-point and quality shot attempts. The Wildcats rank second in Big East 3-point percentage and fourth in total makes, making the Hoyas’ defensive effort particularly notable.
Junior guard KJ Lewis, sophomore guard Kayvaun Mulready, and graduate guard Jeremiah Williams, among other perimeter players, did a commendable job going over pin-downs and pick-and-rolls to limit the threat of Villanova’s deadly shooting. As a result, Georgetown held Villanova to 2-for-10 shooting from behind the arc in the first half.
Additionally, the Hoyas slowed down the pace of the game by applying pressure on Villanova for the majority of the half. The drama stepped up as both teams went back and forth to end the half.
Despite struggling with his shot all game (1-for-14), Mack appeared more comfortable closing the half, making a contested step-back three out of a pick-and-roll with 8:50 remaining and finding a cutting Mulready for a layup with 5:57 on the clock. With under four minutes left in the first half, Mack got to the free-throw line and converted both attempts.
Villanova generated points from the determined offensive rebounding of forward Duke Brennan, who had 10 rebounds for the game, and aggressive drives to the hoop from guard Tyler Perkins. Georgetown went into halftime down 26-23.
Once the second half began, the Hoyas seemed completely disoriented. On the very first possession, Iwuchukwu turned the ball over on the inbound pass, allowing a layup from Villanova guard Acaden Lewis. Just 10 seconds later, Mack turned the ball over to Perkins, resulting in another open layup.
These plays were just two of many unforced turnovers, along with a lack of defensive rotations, that left the Hoyas stunned by a 10-0 Wildcat run in the first 2:36 of the half. Georgetown found themselves down 36-23 with 17:24 remaining.
By the under-16 media timeout, Villanova had extended their burst to a shocking 14-1 run to open the half. As the second half dragged on, turnovers continued to plague Georgetown. In fact, the Hoyas did not make a field goal from 5:57 left in the first half until Mulready hit a 3-pointer with 14:33 to go in the second half, trailing 42-27.
Despite a continued 3-point barrage from Villanova coming out of the under-12 timeout, Mulready was one of a handful of players who showed some resistance. He converted a strong drive through contact for a layup at 10:49, and later hit a catch-and-shoot three following a Hoya timeout with 9:26 left, though the team remained down 55-34.
The Hoyas showed some life toward the end, going on a 17-11 run to close the game, led by Lewis, Abraham, Williams, and Iwuchukwu. However, these efforts were too little, too late, as Georgetown’s 17 turnovers proved insurmountable.
Ultimately, Georgetown fell short, losing 66-51 against a formidable Villanova squad.
After the game, Coach Cooley expressed his disappointment with the team’s second-half collapse. “Obviously not very happy with the way we played in the second half,” Cooley said in a press release. “I loved our energy and toughness in the first half.”
The Hoyas will next embark on a short road trip into hostile territory to face Providence College (9-10, 2-6 Big East) on Jan. 24 at 12:30 p.m. in Providence, R.I.
https://thehoya.com/sports/villanova-jan/