As Vanderbilt guard Alex Gordon hit a running jumper with time expiring in the first half, the lead that Georgetown’s men’s basketball team had once stacked to 12 points dwindled to just four. However, the Hoyas survived foul trouble and missing junior guard Tyler Crawford to defeat Vanderbilt 86-70 and avenge their loss to the Commodores at home last year.
The second half saw the No. 8 Hoyas (2-0) follow the lead of their juniors. With 11 minutes left in the game, Vandy forward Derek Byars knocked down a three-pointer from NBA range to get the fans in Nashville a little rowdy. Then Jon Wallace got aggressive and knocked down a three of his own on the Hoyas’ next possession and settled the crowd for the remainder of the game.
The Hoyas’ junior center and Sports Illustrated cover boy Roy Hibbert kept the Blue and Gray in the game, dominating in the paint, dunking and drawing fouls. He scored 14 of the teams’ 39 first-half points. The seven-footer finished the game with his 10th career double-double, scoring 18 points and ripping down 10 rebounds.
With the elders taking charge in the second frame, the youngsters were able to find their groove. Thompson III was rewarded for getting his rookies in by getting to watch Vernon Macklin sink his first baby hook and Jeremiah Rivers flush his first breakaway dunk. More importantly they, along with junior Patrick Ewing Jr., picked up valuable minutes for players like Wallace and Green in crucial parts of the game to hold the lead and gain the Hoyas their second win of the year.
