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Georgetown Tops Xavier in a Tight Contest
By
Musketeer Madness,
1/4/2025
In a hard-fought Big East matchup at Capital One Arena, Georgetown defeated Xavier 69-63 on Friday night. The Hoyas, led by standout guard Malik Mack's 26 points, held off a second-half rally by the Musketeers to maintain their undefeated conference record. Xavier falls to 1-3 in the Big East and 9-6 overall, while Georgetown improves to 3-0 in the league and 12-2 on the season.
The game started slowly for Xavier, who struggled offensively in the first half. The Musketeers shot just 27.6% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including a paltry 10% from three-point range. Georgetown capitalized on Xavier's sluggish start with balanced scoring. Mack was a constant threat, netting 15 first-half points to help the Hoyas build a 30-24 lead at the break.
The Musketeers found their rhythm in the second half, shooting 42.9% from the field and improving their three-point accuracy to 44.4%. Zach Freemantle led the charge for Xavier with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Ryan Conwell and Dayvion McKnight added 12 points apiece. A late 8-0 run brought Xavier within striking distance, but costly turnovers and missed free throws in the closing minutes hindered their comeback attempt.
Georgetown's dominance on the boards played a pivotal role in the victory. The Hoyas out-rebounded Xavier 40-35, with Micah Peavy grabbing a game-high 10 boards to complement his 15 points. Georgetown also benefitted from timely scoring by Thomas Sorber, who added 12 points and five rebounds. Despite shooting just 22.2% from beyond the arc, the Hoyas found ways to convert in the paint and at the free-throw line.
Xavier's struggles were compounded by their inability to gain the lead at any point in the game. Georgetown's largest lead, 13 points, came midway through the first half and provided enough cushion to fend off Xavier's second-half push. The Hoyas also excelled in second-chance opportunities, outscoring Xavier 14-9 in that category.
The Musketeers will look to regroup as they return home to face another conference foe, St. John's, while Georgetown aims to continue their strong start in league play. For Xavier, improving consistency on offense and reducing turnovers will be critical to bouncing back from this loss.
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