Hoyas outlast the Catamounts

Hoyas' Jabril Trawick (55) shoots
against WCU's Mike Brown (2) 
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Hoyas won another home game, outlasting the Catamounts by a final score of 81-68.  In what was to be a signal for how the game would end, it began with two of the Catamount starters, Trey Sumler and Brandon Boggs, sitting on the bench, suspended for the first half of the game by Coach Hunter.

However. the Cats started the game on a nice run, thanks to Tom Tankelewicz and his three point shooting. Tankelewicz kept it close for most of the first half, but the Cats went into the locker room down 30-42 at halftime.

As the game progressed in the second half and the Hoyas led increased to 26 points at about the 11 minute mark. During the second half,  I began to realize the foul inequity between the Catamounts and the Hoyas.  Maybe it was just me, but it seemed that every time Georgetown took the ball inside, a foul was called on the Catamounts, while almost nothing was called under the Catamount basket.

In the first half alone, the Cats had only 6 shots from the free throw line, making 3 points. while Georgetown had 20 shots, making 15 points from the charity stripe. It was not until after the game, and I reviewed the overall stats, did I realize how well the Catamounts had actually matched up with the #15 Georgetown.

The Cats hit 24 of 52 shots from the field, while the Hoyas hit 26 of 54 shots.

On three-point field goals, the Cats put up 11 of 21, the Hoyas hit 6 of 16.

The Cats pulled down 23 rebounds (8/15), while the much larger Hoyas made 34 (13/21).

The Cats had 15 second chance points, and the Hoyas had 16 second chance points.

The Catamounts did have a total of 15 turnovers, while the Hoyas had only 7 and the 8 additional turnovers hurt/  But the turnovers were not what sealed the game for Georgetown.

It was the free throw shooting.   The number of opportunities each team received was the major difference in the game.  The Hoyas were sent to the charity stripe a total of 33 times, where they scored a game winning 23 points. The Cats only received 14 attempts at the free throw line, making 9 points at the charity stripe.

There is no doubt in my mind, the Big East officials were determined not to let the Catamounts out of the Verizon Center with anything approaching a win. Every time the Hoyas drove inside, you could count on a whistle, either giving the Hoyas the old fashion three point play or bailing out the Hoyas on a missed shot.

Tom Tankelewicz paced the Catamounts with 24 points, making 6 of 10 treys and 4 rebounds, while Sumler added 11 points and Preston Ross scored 10 points.

The Cats are back in action again Friday, December 21st, at the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, tip time is 7 PM EST.


Coach Hunter's post game comments.


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