LINKS: Georgetown Runs Away Against Coppin State in Tune-up Before Conference Play

The Georgetown Hoyas beat the Coppin State Eagles. There’s really not much to add that hasn’t been said.

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Georgetown gets back on track with an 80-48 victory over Coppin State | WASHINGTONPOST

Blair scored a game-high 22 points, and fellow senior Jamorko Pickett added 19 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for the Hoyas (2-2). Forward Chudier Bile, a graduate transfer, had 13 points and eight rebounds. Koby Thomas had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Coppin State (0-4). Chereef Knox added 12 points. Georgetown took a 38-23 lead into halftime, but the Hoyas didn’t look smooth getting there. Coach Patrick Ewing has repeatedly voiced his frustration with turnovers, and the first half produced more of the same. The Hoyas trailed 18-15 about 11 minutes in and at one point had more turnovers (10) than field goals (eight)...

Ewing adjusted by sitting both of his 7-footers and going with a small lineup with a 6-9 wing, Pickett, as the tallest player on the floor. The tweak seemed to spark the Hoyas, who started making jumpers and protecting the basketball better. Georgetown closed the first half on a 23-5 run, with all but a pair of free throws in that stretch scored by Blair, Bile or Pickett.

Men’s Basketball Rebounds, Pickett and Blair Star As Ewing Debuts Small-Ball Lineup - The Georgetown Voice | GEORGETOWNVOICE

“Having me, (senior guard) Don (Carey), or Chudi out on the wing,” Pickett said, “I think that rattled them a lot.”

At the break, the trio of Pickett, Blair, and Bile had 28 of the Hoyas’ 38. Despite thirteen turnovers, the Hoyas were well positioned to close the game out in the second half, as the Eagles shot a miserable 9-of-35 from the field, including 4-of-19 from deep. A better offensive attack from the visitors could have put GU in a tough hole early, but give the Blue & Gray credit for working for better looks of their own.

Pickett showed great assertiveness to begin the second half in the stretch that ultimately put the game to rest. He rose high above the Eagles defense on his confident pullup and three-point attempts, while thundering in two dunks and crashing the glass hard. An impressive nine-point stretch from Blair was bookended by two assists from the Canadian to Bile and Dante Harris, the latter for the first three-pointer of the freshman guard’s career.

Georgetown earns 80-48 win over Coppin State | BIGEASTCOASTBIAS

The win propped them up to an even 2-2 on the year and thus snapped a brief two-game losing streak they were mired in. Coppin State didn’t make things easy early on as they and Georgetown traded blows in the first half. The Eagles were in command of the game up until around the 7:38 mark. It was then that Chudier Bile hit a jumper that spurred a run for the Hoyas. Georgetown went on a 23-5 run to end the half, aided by Bile especially. The former Northwestern State product scored 10 of the 23 points on this run, serving as a catalyst to spur them to a win.

Georgetown overcomes slow start, tops Coppin State | GWINNETTPREPSPORTS

Kobe Thomas and Chereef Knox had 12 points each for the Eagles (0-4), who shot 27.3 percent from the floor, including 8 of 38 (21.1 percent) from beyond the arc. Anthony Tarke, who entered averaging 18.3 points, was limited to eight points while his younger brother, Nendah Tarke, added seven. Georgetown sleepwalked through the start, trailing by six early while being held to one field goal over a seven-minute stretch. The Hoyas trailed 18-15 with nine minutes left in the half before Blair, who committed five turnovers before intermission, ignited a 23-5 onslaught to end the first stanza. He drained a pair of 3-pointers in a 90-second span while Bile contributed 10 points during the run, including a 3-pointer to close the half after a steal by Blair.

Splish Splash: Georgetown’s Shooting Torpedoes Coppin State - Thompson’s Towel | THOMPSONSTOWEL

Dante Harris, the first reinforcement to enter the game, clocked in with 15 minutes left in the half. At that point, the Eagles and Hoyas were trading blows as the game was knotted up at 13. The Eagles started hot as they hit 3 of their first 5 shots from three. Things only got worse as Chudier Bile and Kobe Clark entered the game at the 12 minute timeout as the Hoyas remained down by three. Clark took a stumble at the end of a play and lay on the hardwood writhing in pain, only to be walked off the court by a trainer. He would later return to the sidelines in a walking boot and Ewing noted after the game. Ewing could later remark on the injury, “I don’t know what’s happening right now. It’s a sprain as far as I know.” ...

For what may have been the first time this season, Ewing mixed things up and played Pickett at the 5. This small ball set changed the pace of the game, and the Hoyas finally retook the lead late in the first half. At one point with under 7 minutes left in the half, Coppin State had only made one of their last 12 field goals. Georgetown complimented the Pickett substitution with a rare Hoya zone that seemed to work well to close out the half. Coppin State was forced to take ugly outside shots that failed to fall.

Taking Stock of the 2020-21 Georgetown Hoyas | HILLTOPHOOPS.SUBSTACK

The kids even made their debut, including freshman forward Jamari Sibley, who had yet to see the floor yet in a Georgetown uniform. Hoya fans got a sneak peek at the future that awaits them in 2021 and beyond, as players like freshmen guards Dante Harris and T.J. Berger impressed at the end of the game, with Harris confidently nailing a long three-pointer, and Berger showing off his sweet jumpshot with a three of his own, as well as a smooth finish on a drive into traffic.

No. 9 Villanova opens Big East play at Georgetown | SPORTS.YAHOO

Following an 81-73 overtime loss to No. 15 Virginia Tech in Uncasville, Conn., on Nov. 28, Villanova has responded with back-to-back wins over Hartford and Texas. The task of winning a third in a row at Georgetown will be difficult. “Road attitude. That’s one thing we talk about all the time,” Robinson-Earl said. “Just having a great attitude, especially on the road, and trying to stay focused and locked in. Just play for our teammates and coaches and do that for a full 40 minutes.”

Villanova’s depth continues to be tested as it will be without injured reserves Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Bryan Antoine. Neither player has appeared in any of the first five games. Georgetown defeated Coppin State 80-48 on Tuesday to even its record at 2-2.