TL;DR
- Georgetown Hoyas achieved a 4-0 record, their best since 2017-18, beating Clemson Tigers 79-74.
- KJ Lewis led Georgetown with 26 points and five steals, including crucial late baskets.
- Georgetown overcame foul trouble with their big men, with Vince Iwuchukwu scoring 14 points.
- The Hoyas secured victory with strong free-throw shooting, going 25-of-32 from the line.
The Georgetown Hoyas have achieved a 4-0 record for the first time since the 2017-18 season, securing their second victory against a power conference opponent by defeating the Clemson Tigers (3-1) with a score of 79-74 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, on Saturday afternoon.
KJ Lewis stepped in during the game's final moments, scoring crucial baskets and leading the Hoyas with a game-high 26 points and five steals. Caleb Williams, a forward for Georgetown, delivered a comprehensive performance, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Georgetown's big men encountered significant foul trouble, presenting a major hurdle in their victory. Center Julius Halaifonua was disqualified with 14:07 remaining, prompting the Hoyas to adopt a smaller lineup.
Just 44 seconds into the game, Hoyas coach Ed Cooley had to reinsert Vince Iwuchukwu, who had four fouls. This move came as the Tigers started to exploit the shortage of size on the court before the substitution.
With four fouls and the game close, Iwuchukwu made a powerful dunk from Malik Mack's assist, giving the Hoyas a 72-68 lead over the Tigers with 3:05 remaining in regulation, and they maintained their advantage.
Iwuchukwu finished with 14 points, on 4-of-6 from the field for Georgetown.
Clemson shot 10-of-29 from beyond the arc and hit several crucial shots late in the game to stay in contention, but ultimately ran out of time, managing to narrow the deficit to 77-74 with just 43 seconds remaining.
The Hoyas' success from the free-throw line, where they shot 25-of-32, proved crucial, contrasting with The Tigers' 14-of-20 performance.
The Hoyas will have a week off before playing the Wagner Seahawks at home on November 22nd. Meanwhile, the Tigers aim to rebound at home against the North Alabama Lions on November 17th.