MEN’S HOOPS Georgetown Rally Wasted as Wildcats Upend Hoyas in OT By Mike Hume Hoya Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA – Shades of UCLA’s Tyus Edny’s game-winning layup against Missouri in the 1995 NCAA Tournament were present in the First Union Center in Philadelphia as Villanova’s Derrick Snowden mimicked the former Bruin guard and drove the length of the court, tying the game at 67 and sending the game into overtime where the Wildcats easily pulled away for a 83-72 over the Hoyas last Saturday. It was the second overtime loss in three games for Georgetown.
Georgetown shot poorly from the field, missing 15 consecutive field goals in the first half, shooting a season low 30.6-percent from the floor for the game.
Despite the poor shooting performance the Hoyas rallied with a 22-7 run behind sophomore forward Mike Sweetney’s strong second half, and regained the lead 53-52 with 4:11 remaining in the contest. Sweetney scored a game high 31 points after sitting out most of the first half due to foul trouble.
Georgetown held on to the lead and eventually forced the Wildcats to begin intentionally fouling in the game’s waning moments. Kevin Braswell converted several key free throws to keep the Hoyas ahead, but the Wildcats inched ever closer on two three-pointers by Snowden and Brooke Sales with time running down.
With the score 66-65 in favor of the Hoyas, freshman forward Harvey Thomas drove toward the hoop and got fouled with 9.3 seconds left.
With the clock stopped, Thomas made only one of two free throws, leaving the door open for Snowden’s heroics.
Georgetown’s shooting again went cold in overtime as the Hoyas missing five of its first six shots in the extra frame, and only 2 of 17 total.
For the Hoyas, the loss marks the second consecutive overtime road loss to the Wildcats, and the fourth straight loss overall to Villanova.
Ricky Wright led Villanova with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Sales (16), Snowden (15), Gary Buchanan (15) and Reggie Bryant (12) all broke double digits in points.
Braswell added 15 points, including shooting six for six from the foul line in the losing cause.
Thomas added 10 points before fouling out in overtime.
Thomas, Sweetney and junior center Wesley Wilson all fouled out in the extra period.