Hoya Paranoia Justified

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Xavier was on their best start in history but the mystique of Georgetown was too strong.

The Georgetown Hoyas (12-7, 5-2 Big East) shot nearly 50 percent from the floor against on of the nation's best defense to defeat the Xavier Musketeers (16-2 4-2 Big East), 81-72.

Tre Campbell had never scored more than 15 points in a game dropped 21 on the Musketeers' unsuspecting heads to pull the upset over the #5 team in the polls.

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"We didn't get them off their comfort zone," Xavier senior Myles Davis said.

Campbell felt it was just his time.

"I was in a rhythm and my teammates kept finding me," said Campbell, who averaged a little over 3.5 points per game coming in"

Xavier led by seven points with 6:16 left in the first half but the Hoyas took a 39-33 lead into halftime and never let up.  Xavier found themselves down by 12 with 4:51 left in the game

When Xavier closed within two points at 51-49 with 11:04 left in the game.  Georgetown had an answer. A minute and a half later T.J. Peak got a fastbreak dunk off a defensive rebound by Devauntes Smith-Rivera and Georgetown sported an 11-point lead.

"I'm going to give Georgetown a lot of credit," Xavier coach Chris Mack said. "They had an answer for every run. We played man defense and zone and they handled it.  They played really, really well."

Xavier had problems finishing shots around the basket.  The Musketeers made 10 of 28 (36%) 3-point shots but were only 14-for-40 inside (35%). Compounding the shooting slump the Musketeers were outrebounded for the first time this season.  It was Xavier's worst shooting night of the season.

"We didn't finish a lot of shots," Mack said. "Our front court and our back court were bothered by their size. They blocked seven shots."

Georgetown took 17 fewer shots as Xavier took a season high 68 shots. Xavier had 13 offensive rebounds and very few turnovers (5) but couldn't score enough.

"I can't answer why we shot 50 percent tonight," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "I spent the last two days trying to figure out why we only shot 33 percent against Villanova.  This is just a really good league.  The ball just went in tonight. And we were in position to shoot when we got the ball. Xavier closes really fast but we got off some quick shots off good looks at the basket."

Devauntes Smith-Rivera, who scored 20 points, was heavily recruited by Xavier but chose Georgetown, still he talked to Mack before the game.

"I still have a close relationship with him," Smith-Rivera said.  "It is fun to come in here and win.  I enjoy the crowd reactions."  He was booed by the Xavier fans each time he touched the ball.

Peak added 13 points, grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and blocked two shots for the Hoyas. Freshman Jessie Govan 13 points and six rebounds.

Trevon Bluiett led Xavier with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Davis finished with 15 points.  Freshman Edmond Sumner contributed 10 points.