Your UNDEFEATED Georgetown Hoyas took down the visiting Clemson Tigers today, 79-74, improving to 4-0 on the season.
KJ Lewis dominated with 26 points, 5 steals, and a handful of rebounds. Malik Mack dropped 16 points while dishing out 7 assists. Caleb Williams contributed 13 points, while both he and DeShawn Harris-Smith grabbed six rebounds each. Vince Iwuchukwu came off the bench with 14 points, including a crucial floater to close the game. The Hoyas were truly terrible hosts, and it was phenomenal to witness.
With multiple strong preseason showings and a 3-0 non-conference start, Georgetown faithful were looking for a sign. Both teams were in the “receiving votes” sections of the last weekly polls, both undefeated, and the Tigers were sitting at 20th in the KenPom ratings. After taking down Maryland at College Park last week, the Hoyas were eager to prove something in front of a home crowd and give the students a reason to keep making the trek.
Caleb Williams swung the pendulum early with a three-pointer. Georgetown then got three consecutive stops on defense, including two from Julius Halaifonua—whose name the announcing crew spectacularly butchered. KJ Lewis nailed some free throws and also found Halaifonua, who got a bucket through contact. More than two and a half minutes elapsed before Clemson got on the board.
A risky baseline drive into Clemson’s Godfrey by Isaiah Abraham drew a foul, earning the Tiger his second quick foul. Georgetown led 8-6 at the first media timeout, though Clemson evened it up almost immediately as play resumed. Lewis looked poised to treat the crowd to a dunk, but it was cleanly blocked. The teams remained separated by only a single basket, but the Hoyas found themselves on the wrong end of a 7-0 run until Malik Mack knocked down a pair to tie the game again.
Sloppy, quick possessions on both ends ensued until Clemson hit a three-pointer. Georgetown reset their offense, and Caleb Williams answered with his own triple. Lewis hit another contested three as the shot clock expired, Clemson responded quickly, and the generally chaotic style of play continued.
If Georgetown could improve their conversion on forced turnovers and grab a few more rebounds—preferably both—their prospects would improve dramatically.
The Tigers took their first three-basket advantage of the game, though the broadcast opted for a distant camera view from high in the rafters during this stretch. Georgetown trailed 27-22 at the under-8 timeout. Mack settled the offense while Lewis continued to create; the Hoyas pulled back within two before Clemson drained another three. Lewis responded with a three of his own.
Vince Iwuchukwu drew two fouls (three total for Georgetown from the free throw line) while Clemson managed just one basket across roughly 10 combined possessions. The Tigers stayed ahead 34-32 with two minutes left in the first half.
A fortuitous out-of-bounds possession call gave the ball back to Georgetown with 28.1 seconds remaining. Lewis put up a buzzer-beater attempt, but it bounced in and out. The Hoyas went into the break down 36-33.
Coming out of halftime, two baskets from Iwuchukwu, free throws from Lewis, and a triple from Caleb Williams tied the game at 42-42 with 17:45 remaining.
A defensive rotation lapse looked like it might cost Georgetown, but a strong block from Abraham shut it down. Iwuchukwu and Halaifonua both picked up their fourth fouls within seconds of each other, while Clemson added a pair of buckets.
Lewis sparked momentum with a steal leading into a one-hand breakaway jam, delivering on what had been teased in the first half. This was followed by a long two from Abraham, keeping the teams tied at 48-48.
A triple from Mack put Georgetown ahead for the first time since early in the first half. Seconds later, Halaifonua fouled out, forcing the Hoyas into an unorthodox lineup with DeShawn Harris-Smith playing center.
(Editor’s History Lesson: In 2014, Georgetown won a game at Hinkle Fieldhouse where John Caprio played center, so things could always be weirder.)
After a basket and free throws, Lewis put Georgetown ahead 55-50 with just over 12 minutes to play. Mack finished through contact, missed a subsequent free throw, but Iwuchukwu was fouled going for the rebound. His putback extended the Hoyas’ lead to 58-51, and Caleb Williams added two more points.
Meanwhile, Clemson endured several minutes without a field goal before finally breaking through. Mack’s pair of foul shots briefly put the Hoyas ahead by 10, but the Tigers quickly answered. Georgetown took a 64-56 lead into the under-8 commercial break.
An uncharacteristic foul by Mack on a three-point shooter opened the door for Clemson, who converted all three free throws and then scored four unanswered points. The Hoyas’ lead shrank to 66-63.
Lewis responded with quick hands, forcing a steal and then driving for a well-calculated basket. A Clemson three-pointer prevented a full momentum swing. Heading into the under-4 timeout, Georgetown led 68-66 and awaited free throws from DeShawn Harris-Smith, who made both.
Mack found Iwuchukwu, who ran the baseline and finished above the rim for a thunderous slam. Another steal by Lewis led to a drive and finish plus a foul shot, pushing the lead to 75-68.
What had felt dangerously close just seconds earlier now became a comfortable advantage.
Lewis added two more points with the roll on the following possession, but Clemson clawed back with a quick three-pointer to make it 77-71 with 1:20 remaining.
Caleb Williams hit the iron on his next attempt, Clemson hit yet another three, and Coach Ed Cooley called a timeout with his team trailing by three.
Mack dribbled out most of the shot clock before finding Iwuchukwu in the high paint. Iwuchukwu nailed a clean floater—the final bucket in a sweet, sweet victory for Georgetown.
KJ Lewis was huge across multiple vectors, especially with his disruptive steals. Malik Mack facilitated the offense well. Vince Iwuchukwu provided valuable scoring in double figures off the bench and impressively did not foul out despite picking up his fourth foul less than four minutes into the second half. His presence on the court was vital to sealing the game and celebrating with the student section afterward.
This program has been waiting for a performance like this. So have the fans. Hoyas win!
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/undefeated-lewis-locks-down-clemson-201233786.html
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