Hoyas Fight Back from 19-Point Deficit to Win Opener (photos)
By • November 7, 2019 0 1708
It was looking bleak for the Georgetown University men’s basketball team on Wednesday, Nov. 6 — the season opener at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Early in the second half, the team was down 46-27 to the underdog Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers. The Hoyas were ice cold from the field, at one point missing 13 shots in a row in a 10-minute span and converting only one three-pointer in 10 attempts in the first half.
“We woke up,” said Hoyas Head Coach Patrick Ewing, describing what happened next. A Hoyas full-court press seemed to rattle the younger Mountaineers. Suddenly, the shots started to fall. Led by the play of sophomore guard James Akinjo’s 17 second-half points, and dominant play by transfer center Omer Yurtseven, the Hoyas climbed back to a tie score with 10 minutes to play. The team would finish with 20 straight points to ice the game. The final score: 81-68.
Yurtseven and Akinjo scored 20 points each. Mac McClung had 16 points for the Hoyas on 6-for-9 shooting. Yurtseven shot 7-for-9 with 12 rebounds. Jalen Gibbs had 19 points and Vado Morse added 18 points for the Mountaineers. In a stark reversal, the Hoyas were 7-for-11 from the three-point stripe in the second half.
The Hoyas hope to improve on last year’s 19 wins. Four starters have returned this season, with Yurtseven filling in for the capable graduating senior Jesse Govan. Starting forward Josh Leblanc sat out the Mount St. Mary’s game.
The Hoyas will be back in the Capital One Arena to play the Central Arkansas Bears at noon this Saturday, Nov. 9.
View Jeff Malet’s photos of the Hoyas defeat of Mount St. Mary’s by clicking on the photo icons below.
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- Mac McClung drives to the basket against Dee Barnes of The Mount. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- Vado Morse of The Mount drives the lane in the 2nd half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Malik Jefferson of the Mount goes up against Mac McClung and Galen Alexander of the Hoyas in the second half. Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- Jmes Akinjo goes up against Collin Nnamene and Damian Chong Qui of The Mount in the 1st half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Terrell Allen of the Hoyas goes up against Omar Habwe of The Mount in the first half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Collin Nnamene of The Mount blocks out Omer Yurtseven of the Hoyas. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Terrell Allen of the Hoyas goes up against Vado Morse of The Mount in the first half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Terrell Allen of the Hoyas is trailed by Omar Habwe of The Mount in the first half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Galen Alexander of the Hoyas goes up for a shot. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Omer Yurtseven of the Hoyas lays it in. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Omar Habwe of The Mount in the 2nd half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Mac McClung of the Hoyas goes in for a score late in the game. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Hoyas cheerleaders celebrate a basket. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Dee Barnes of the Mount drives to the basket against Omer Yurtseven of the Hoyas. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Dee Barnes of The Mount is guarded by Myron Gardner of the Hoyas. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Omer Yurtseven of the Hoyas scores on a two handed jam off a pass from James Akinjo with 5:02 remaining in the 2nd half to give the Hoyas the lead 67-66. It was the first lead for Georgetown since the 18 minute mark in the first half.
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- Nana Opoku of The Mount drives against Jamorko Pickett of the Hoyas. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Nana Opoku of The Mount goes for a loose ball in the 2nd half. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Coach Patrick Ewing with standouts Omer Yurtseven and James Akinjo take questions from the press after the game. (photo by Jeff Malet)
