Coming into Tuesday’s contest, there were certainly doubts around whether Georgetown would be able to follow up Saturday’s win over Syracuse. After a decisive 81-55 victory over the UMBC Retrievers, I think it’s safe to say those questions have been answered.
The Hoyas put forth a stellar defensive effort, holding UMBC to just 55 points, the lowest total Georgetown has allowed all season. On the offensive end, Omer Yurtseven’s 22 points paced a balanced attack, as four Hoyas finished in double figures.
In the early going, Georgetown was certainly not at their sharpest offensively. Coming off two impressive performances, Mac McClung came out looking to take charge once again. The shots were not falling for McClung, however, as he missed his first three field goal attempts and finished the half just three of 10 from the field.
Fortunately for the Hoyas, the Retrievers were even sloppier, turning it over three times in the opening five minutes and 10 times by halftime. The Hoyas were also very active on the defensive end, forcing multiple jump balls without fouling. “They made it hard for us early in the game to get off clean looks,” said UMBC Head Coach Ryan Odom. As a result, UMBC was held scoreless seven minutes into the game. By the time the Retrievers did begin to put points on the board, they already faced a 14-point deficit.
Eventually, Georgetown began to figure it out on the offensive end. Yurtseven began to find his groove, using his size advantage to dominate on the inside. Yurtseven posted a double-double in the first half alone, scoring 12 points and adding 10 rebounds. Jahvon Blair also continued to contribute off the bench, knocking down two three-pointers in the first twenty minutes. Blair finished the game in double figures with 15 points.
Despite their cold start from the field, UMBC did not pack it in. Facing a 19-point deficit, the largest of the half, the Retrievers put together a 7-0 run to get back in the game. When UMBC pulled within 11 with just over four minutes until the break, Georgetown rattled off an 8-3 run to end the half up 42-24.
Coming out of halftime, the Hoyas had a chance to put it away early. They did exactly that, extending the lead to 29 with 12:52 to play. Yurtseven played a big role in this, picking up right where he left off in the first. He added 10 second half points to bring his total to 22, which led all scorers. Despite his tough shooting night, McClung did manage to bring the crowd to their feet with this spectacular slam.
Not to be outdone, Jagan Mosely followed up McClung’s dunk with two one-handed slams of his own. With the Hoyas up big, McClung and Yurtseven would sit comfortably on the sidelines for the last 12 minutes of action.
With many of the team’s starters done for the night, Coach Ewing gave some younger players a chance to get some minutes. Jaden Robinson, Chuma Azinge and Tim Ighoefe all made their season debuts in the second half of Tuesday’s game. Especially of note was Ighoefe’s entrance, which guarantees the freshman center will not be redshirting this season.
One of Georgetown’s quiet stars Tuesday night was junior forward Jamorko Pickett. Many have expected Pickett to step up in the wake of LeBlanc, Alexander and Gardner’s departures, and he did exactly that. He ended the night with 12 points on four of six shooting, a very efficient performance that certainly gives hope for the future. Unfortunately, Pickett exited the game early with a left calf injury. Pickett was able to walk on the leg, and reassured reporters that he felt “pretty good” after the game. “I think it’s just I didn’t drink enough fluids,” Pickett added. Though this quiets most concerns around this particular injury, it is essential for Pickett to remain healthy as the season progresses, especially given the Hoyas’ lack of depth at the forward position.
Notching a convincing victory, even against an opponent like UMBC, is a big step forward for this Georgetown team. Doing so in spite of a rough game from Mac McClung is nothing short of remarkable. Tuesday’s victory extends the Hoyas’ win streak to four; there’s no telling how long Georgetown can keep this hot streak going.
