On a chilly Saturday afternoon, the Hoyas rolled to an easy 99-71 victory over the Samford Bulldogs. Georgetown was in control for nearly the whole game, dominating the paint against the smaller Bulldog team. Omer Yurtseven led the way with 32 points to go along with 17 rebounds, both career bests. Mac McClung also added 25 points, 5 assists and a career high 7 rebounds.
After falling behind 9-8 in the early going, the Hoyas went on a 25-7 run to open up a lead. The Bulldogs responded with a 13-4 run of their own to end the half, cutting the deficit to 13. Despite only making one three-pointer in the first half, the Hoyas dominated the offensive glass, resulting in 15 second chance points. In total, Georgetown out-rebounding Samford by a 53-20 margin.
The quick pace of the first half continued into the latter twenty minutes. Samford climbed to within 10 points of the Hoyas with a three-pointer to open the half, but that was the closest they ever came. The Hoyas were able to dismantle Samford’s zone, enabling Yurtseven to have complete control over the paint.
Despite attempts from the Bulldogs to press in hopes of getting back in the game, the Hoyas continued to impose their will on the offensive end. As the shooting improved in the second half, the Hoyas continued to expand their lead, bringing it to 30 points with three minutes to play. Jamorko Pickett enjoyed a nice day from the field, adding 14 points of his own.
With only 10 turnovers, Georgetown had yet another solid showing despite the weaker competition. In the final minutes, Timothy Ighoefe scored his first bucket while Jaden Robinson tallied his first collegiate points (you’re next, George Muresan). Perhaps the most exciting moment of the game came with mere seconds left, as the bench players attempted seven shots around the rim with no success, desperately trying to crack 100 points. As McClung and others reacted on the bench, the smiles on the Hoyas’ face was something everyone could smile along with.
As Big East play approaches, the Hoyas seem to be filling into their new roles nicely as Ewing continues to piece together the rotation. Though Georgetown’s lack of depth has yet to be truly tested, the confidence and cohesiveness seems to be improving each game. Georgetown has one final opponent before diving into the meat of the season, hoping to gain their 6th win in a row against American University on December 28.
