After a comeback from over the No. 22 Texas Longhorns on Thursday night, the Georgetown Hoyas will get a chance at the No. 1 team in the nation in the Duke Basketball team.
The Georgetown Hoyas had high expectations entering the 2019-20 season and although only through four games, some were starting to question Patrick Ewing’s squad.
Down at least eight points in its three of its first four games, the Hoyas entered Madison Square Garden as an underdog to No. 22 Texas on Friday night.
In the first half it looked like the same Hoyas, poor and sloppy defense, trying to do too much on offense, and trailing at the break, 42-37.
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Halftime ended and Georgetown looked like a completely different team in the second half.
The Hoyas were efficient on offense, attacking on defense, and the MSG crowd was on its feet for Patrick Ewing and his team.
Georgetown only allowed 24 second half points en route to a 82-66 victory.
Mac McClung led the way for Georgetown as the sophomore posted 19 points, three rebounds and one assist.
The 6-foot-2 guard is averaging 12.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on the season, while shooting 36.8% from the floor and 23.5% from 3-point range.
Jamorko Pickett was also big down the stretch for the Hoyas on Thursday night, posting 15 points and 5 rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting.
Pickett is listed as a 6-foot-8 forward and he averages 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on 54.5% shooting.
James Akinjo struggled from the field, only making 2-of-10 but the guard was able to finish with 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists, as he made all ten of his free throw attempts.
Akinjo doesn’t often have quiet nights as the junior is averaging 12.3 points per game, tied for second best on the team.
Omer Yurtseven found himself in foul trouble for most of the game against the Longhorns but in 13 minutes finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
The North Carolina State transfer is listed at 7-foot and averages 17.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in his first season with the Hoyas, leading the team in both categories.
Jagan Mosely only scored four points but managed to grab seven rebounds in the win over Texas and averages 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Ewing doesn’t turn to his bench often but the Hoyas got key contributions from Josh LeBlanc and Qudus Wahab on Thursday night as LeBlanc finished with nine points and four rebounds while Wahab also had nine points but three rebounds, in extended playing time due to Yurtseven’s foul trouble.
The Duke Blue Devils will have its handsful with the potent Georgetown roster on Friday night in the Championship Game of the 2K Empire Classic on Friday night at Madison Square Garden with tipoff set for approximately 7:30pm EST on ESPN2.