Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

MEN’S BASKETBALL | Govan Leads Georgetown in Victory Over CCSU

The Georgetown men’s basketball team defeated Central Connecticut State 85-78 in a tightly contested matchup in Capital One Arena on Nov. 10.

In their second matchup of the season, the Hoyas (2-0) looked to build on their 15-point victory over Maryland Eastern Shore in the season opener on Nov. 6.

Senior center Jessie Govan led Georgetown in scoring with 26 points and added eight rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals. Govan said his teammates allowed him to lead the Hoyas offensively against Central Connecticut State (1-1).

“Guys were getting me involved early and it carried over the whole game,” Govan said in a postgame press conference.

Yet, Govan was also critical of the mistakes he made Saturday night, and said he can perform better in the future.

“Any game I miss a free throw definitely isn’t a perfect game,” Govan said. “I missed some shots I should have made too.”

In addition to Govan, four other Hoyas scored in double figures in a balanced offensive performance.

Sophomore guard Jamorko Pickett scored 12 points and hit three three-pointers, boosting the team after the Blue Devils cut the Hoyas’ lead to three with five minutes remaining. Graduate student forward Trey Mourning also chipped in a career-high 12 points, while freshman point guard James Akinjo led the team in assists with seven and sank free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

KIRK ZIESER FOR THE HOYA | Freshman guard James Akinjo scored 13 points in 32 minutes in Georgetown’s win over CCSU.

Head Coach Patrick Ewing praised Pickett’s effort on both ends of the floor.

“He played great … He showed me today that he’s growing,” Ewing said in a postgame press conference. “He was on their best player so he had to exert himself [on the defensive end] but he also made shots when it mattered most.”

Georgetown improved on the offensive end from its season opener, cutting its turnovers down from 19 to 13 while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.

Still, the Hoyas struggled to contest the Blue Devils’ attempts from the behind the arc. Central Connecticut State shot eight of 11 on three point shots in the second half, and nearly 43 percent of its made field goals were three pointers. Freshman guard Ian Khrisnan recorded 28 points and shot six of 11 from behind the arc for the Blue Devils.

When asked about how he will handle his young roster, Ewing stressed the need for balance.

“I have to give them room to grow but we also need to win, so it’s a give and take,” Ewing said. “We’re going to need them to step up and play big for us at the end of the year, so right now is the time where you hold back and give them some room.”

The Hoyas next take the court on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 8:30 p.m. The team is going on the road, facing the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports One.

The matchup marks Georgetown’s first contest against a high-major Division 1 team, which will present a challenge for the Hoyas, according to Ewing.

“Illinois is a great team,” Ewing said. “They are athletic and will press, run and try to take charges when we drive inside. It will be a good, quality game.”

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