Saturday Recap: Hoyas romp, Panthers upset, ‘Nova gets sole road win of the day
Hibbert leads No.5 Georgetown in romp of Irish
Pre-season All-American Roy Hibbert poured in 21 points and dished out five assists to lead No.5 Georgetown easily past Notre Dame 84-65 on Saturday. The Hoyas’ stalwart was defense was in full effect against the Irish, holding Notre Dame to a season low 32.8 percent shooting from the field.
DaJuan Summers had a double-double for Georgetown (14-2, 4-1) with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman guard Austin Freeman dropped in 16 points. The Hoyas shot 52.8 percent from the field. Their starting five dominated the Irish, scoring 76 of their 84 points, despite being outrebounded by Notre Dame, 36-30.
Luke Harangody led Notre Dame 13-4, 3-2) with 13 points on just 3-of-13 shooting from the field before fouling out in the second half. Harangody had a difficult afternoon at both ends of the floor. He struggled offensively, and had the unpleasant task of matching up against Hibbert at the defensive end of the floor. Kyle McAlarney also had a rough day from the field, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field, and just 2-of-8 from 3-point range. McAlarney wasn’t the lone Irish player to struggle from long distance; Notre Dame shot 28 percent from downtown on 7-of-25 shooting. Notre Dame was 20-of-61 from the field. The 64 points was a season low scored by the Irish, who dropped 64 points alone in the second half last weekend against Connecticut.
The Hoyas were trailing 17-16 with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half. Emphasis on were. Georgetown preceded to race to a 15-0 run, a stretch in which the Irish went almost seven minutes without a basket. Georgetown took a 38-25 lead into the break. Notre Dame wasn’t able to get back into the game in the second half, and there 1-of-10 start from the field in the second didn’t help matters much.
No.5 Georgetown returns to action on ‘Big Monday’ against long-time rival Syracuse. Notre Dame will have a full week off to prepare for Villanova next Saturday, Jan.26th.
No.25 Villanova bests Syracuse in the Carrier Dome
Anytime you’re able to pick up a win in the Big East, let alone on the road in place like the Carrier Dome, it’s a tremendous feeling, a feeling Villanova was able to experience first hand on Saturday.
Scottie Reynolds led the Wildcat attack and No.25 Villanova took full advantage of the foul trouble Syracuse found themselves in, picking up the road win 81-71. Syracuse had four players with at least four fouls, with Scoop Jardine and Donte Greene fouling out for the Orange.
Villanova (13-3, 3-2) rebounded in the second half from a disappointing effort in the first half, shooting just 29 percent. Greene picked up his fourth foul not even three minutes to start the second and then Arinze Onuaku got his fourth with just over 12 minutes to go. The Wildcats wiped out a five point deficit at the half, trailing 35-30.
Villanova went up 57-53 with just over 10 minutes to play when Greene and Onuaku checked back in, giving Syracuse (13-6, 3-3) a momentum boost with eight points between the two. The warm, fuzzy feeling for the Orange didn’t last long, as Greene fouled out with about five and a half minutes left. Onuaku pulled Syracuse to within three, 66-63, but Corey Fisher canned a 3-pointer and then Reynolds was fouled on a 3-point attempt and sunk all three free throws. Villanova led 72-63 with three and a half left and the Orange couldn’t mount one final charge.
Losing Greene killed any momentum or ideas of a comeback by Syracuse and a lot of credit goes to head coach Jay Wright and Villanova. His players hung tough after a difficult first half, with the home crowd feverishly into it and they battled back down the stretch and came up with some tremendous baskets and key execution on offense in crunch time.
Fisher added 15 for Villanova and Cunningham chipped in with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Villanova’s bench outscored Syracuse 31-5. Losing one player is very tough for Syracuse, but then losing Onuaku killed Syracuse. Freshman Jonny Flynn led Syracuse in scoring with 23 points. Greene finished with 12 and Onuaku added 10 points and 10 rebounds before both players fouled out.
No.25 Villanova will travel to Rutgers on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Syracuse will face off against rival Georgetown on Big Monday at 7 p.m.
Cincinnati beats second ranked opponent in as many weeks, knocking off No.15 Pittsburgh
Last Saturday, Cincinnati took a bite out Villanova, this week, it was the same story, just a different chapter. This Saturday, Pittsburgh bit the dust at the hands of Cincinnati as the Bearcats upset No.15 Pittsburgh 62-59.
With things tied at 40, Cincinnati (9-9, 4-2) used a late 13-0 run with just over 4 minutes to play and was able to stave off a late rally by Pittsburgh (15-3, 3-2). The Panthers had one final attempt to send the contest to overtime, but Keith Benjamin’s 3-point attempt was blocked with three seconds to play. Benjamin, with Pittsburgh already depleted by injuries, suffered a cut on his hand and needed stitches. He left the game in the first half, but returned in the second half for Pitt. Sam Young led the way for Pittsburgh with 24 points and nine rebounds. Benjamin was the only other Panther in double figures, finishing with 11. Freshman DaJuan Blair finished with only four points and three rebounds and was hampered by foul trouble in the second half. Tyrell Biggs, who replaced Blair, also found himself in foul trouble, and was limited to six points off the bench.
Deonta Vaughn led Cincinnati with 14 points. Adam Hyrcaniuk finished with 12 points and team high seven rebounds and Rashad Bishop added 11. The Panthers shot just 2-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first half, and led by one at the break, 28-27. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Panthers.
With the victory, Cincinnati has moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Big East at 4-2. DePaul and West Virginia are also 4-2. The Bearcats have won three of their last four games.
Pittsburgh returns to action on Wednesday night at St. John’s at 7 p.m., while Cincinnati also returns to the hardwood on Wednesday night with a home contest against Connecticut at 7:30 p.m.
Tags: Big East Basketball, Cincinnati Bearcats, Georgetown Hoyas, NCAA Men's basketball, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Pittsburgh Panthers, Syracuse Orange, Villanova Wildcats