For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the Georgetown Hoyas are off to a 4-0 start with their second win of the season against a power conference school with a 79-74 win over the Clemson Tigers (3-1) at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, Saturday afternoon.
KJ Lewis took over in the late stages of the game with clutch baskets and finished with game-highs in points (26) and steals (five) for the Hoyas. Georgetown forward Caleb Williams put together an all-around effort with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The win came with a major obstacle – foul trouble from Georgetown’s big men. Center Julius Halaifonua fouled out with 14:07 left, which resulted in the Hoyas playing more small ball.
44 seconds of game time later, Hoyas coach Ed Cooley was forced to bring Vince Iwuchukwu back in the game with four fouls as the Tigers began to feast on the lack of size on the other end prior to the substitution.
Saddled with four fouls and the game on the fence, Iwuchukwu delivered a thunderous dunk off Malik Mack’s feed began to distance the Hoyas from the Tigers at 72-68 with 3:05 left in regulation and never looked back.
Iwuchukwu finished with 14 points, on 4-of-6 from the field for Georgetown.
Clemson went 10-of-29 from three-point range and made a few down the stretch to keep the game competitive, but time ran out as it could only get it to as close as 77-74 with 43 seconds left.
Free throws played a vital factor as the Hoyas converted 25-of-32, while the Tigers made 14 of their 20 attempts.
The Hoyas are off for the next week before hosting the Wagner Seahawks on Nov. 22, while the Tigers look to get back on track at home against the North Alabama Lions on Nov. 17.