Hoyas Fall to UNC Greensboro, 65-61 (photos)

The Georgetown University men’s basketball team (4-3, Big East) was defeated 65-61 by the visiting UNC Greensboro Spartans (6-2, Southern) on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Hoyas’ offense turned the ball over 19 times and shot only 37 percent. Still, they trailed by only a point, 60-59, with just under a minute to go in the game. Were it not for two standout plays by Spartans forward Kynn Galloway, Georgetown might have prevailed.

Following a steal at midcourt, Hoyas guard James Akinjo passed the ball to a driving Omer Yurtseven, the Hoyas’ seven-foot center. But his attempt at a slam was partially blocked by a trailing Galloway. It was a huge play that would have given the Hoyas the lead with just 58 seconds to go.

The Hoyas missed another opportunity when, with just 28 seconds left and trailing by two points, Galloway rebounded a missed free throw by teammate Malik Massey. UNCG’s Keyshaun Langley followed with two free throws, opening up a four-point lead with just 17 seconds remaining. The Hoyas could not recover.

It was a disappointing performance for the Hoyas following an excellent showing the prior week in New York’s Madison Square Garden, where they defeated Texas and took the nation’s top-ranked Duke down to the wire.

The outcome should not have been a total surprise. The Spartans have won at least 20 games for three successive seasons between 2016 and 2019, winning two Southern Conference championships while reaching the NCAA tournament in 2018.

Coming up: The Hoyas will play at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and at SMU on Saturday, Dec. 7, before returning to Capital One Arena to host Syracuse at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

View Jeff Malet’s photos of the game between Georgetown and UNC Greensboro by clicking on the photo icons below.

tagsGeorgetown Hoyas Basketball;HoyasSportssports photography