Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
In what might have been one of the most complete games for the Hoyas this season, or maybe the entire Ed Cooley time at the helm of the team. Still, they could not find a way to hold #3 UCONN in the final seconds of the game today and drop another game in the Big East, 64-62.
The Hoyas had one shot to tie this game with 12 seconds remaining, but the shot by KJ Lewis fell way short and the Huskies grabbed the rebound and the dunk by Vince Iwuchukwu in the final seconds was all but just an addition to the stat sheet at that point.
Tarris Reed Jr led the way for the Huskies with 15 points and 11 rebounds for his third double double of the season. Silas Demary Jr. with 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds, as well as several tough plays on both ends of the court late in the game. Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins added 10 and 11 points, respectively. It was Ball’s strong dunk late in the second half that changed the energy in this game for the Hoyas, and it seemed to put the Huskies back in the driver seat.
After the game Hoyas Head Coach Ed Cooley was asked about the shot by Lewis, or perhaps could he have called his final timeout to draw up a better play to a player like Malik Mack, who had the hot hand in the final two minutes. Instead, he deflected to the fact that the Hoyas are 9-9 on the season and 1-6 in Big East Conference play.
“The one thing I can tell you is I believe in our group. I trust our group. I’ve seen us get better without a win. I like our competitive spirit right now, the ball’s just not bouncing our way in certain instances. I don’t want our men to lose their confidence. I don’t want our men to doubt what we’re doing because we’re right there at the doorstep,” said Cooley.
Georgetown had a huge advantage on the Huskies today and forced them to struggle in quite a few instances in the first half. UCONN averaged 49.4% shooting from the field and 38.7% from deep. Georgetown held UConn to 36.2% (21-58) shooting for the game and 19.2% (5-26) from beyond the arc. However, the Huskies took 24 trips to the line, converting on 17.
What made this game so close in the end was that the Huskies 2-for-8 from the foul line over the final two minutes, but the Hoyas were only able to convert one basket.
The Hoyas have a few days to regroup before they head on the road to face Villanova on Wednesday night.
