The Georgetown Hoyas played Villanova closer than most teams have throughout their 8-game win streak, but, in the end, it was junior guard Josh Hart taking the game into his own hands and securing yet another win for the streaking Wildcats (16-2), as they topped their Big East rival 55-50.

Hart recorded fifteen points and twelve rebounds, good enough for his third double-double in four games. Two games ago, when #18 Butler threatened Villanova’s winning streak, Hart was there, saving the game again with his double-double performance. Hart was dominant defensively today versus Georgetown, pulling down eleven of his twelve boards on the defensive side of the court. His repeated rebounds constantly frustrated the Hoyas (11-7) who were unable to extend possessions, which was costly as they shot just 32% on the day.

Hart's Early Dunk Boosts 'Cats To Early Lead

Hart made an early statement in the game, forcing the first of 13 Georgetown turnovers. He picked up the loose ball after his steal, raced down the court and jammed it in for a 2-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game, silencing the home crowd. However, the Hoyas didn’t falter though, as they stayed right with the sixth-ranked Wildcats. At the halfway mark of the first half, the Hoyas trailed just 15-12, thanks largely to seven points from D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (15 points) in the first ten minutes. Villanova got a little breathing room late in the first half thanks to a 9-2 run over a span of four minutes and forty-two seconds. The run gave the Wildcats a 24-17 lead.

Both Squads Go Cold Into Start Of The 2nd Half

The Wildcats went up 26-20 before both teams went cold before the break. In the final three minutes of the half, Georgetown had the only score, with a single layup that cut the deficit to 26-22. During the stretch, the Wildcats were 0-5 shooting, while the Hoyas were just 1-3. 
The cold streak continued into the second half, as neither team scored until Georgetown’s Isaac Copeland sank a free throw with 18:14 remaining. Villanova was 0-2 to start the second half, while Georgetown made just one of four shot attempts.

Villanova Starts To Pull Away

Finally, however, the Wildcats regained their form, making their next three shots for a mini 7-0 run that pushed their lead to 33-23. A Daniel Ochefu jumper with 14:26 remaining bloated Villanova’s lead to a game-high 12 points. 

Georgetown was unable to close the gap for several minutes, as Villanova did an excellent job responding to every Georgetown basket. Twice, the Hoyas cut the Villanova lead to eight points, but both times, the Wildcats produced a momentum-swinging basket. Once, Kris Jenkins drained a shot from beyond the arc to restore Villanova's double-digit lead. Another time, Mikal Bridges slammed down a huge dunk to shut down Georgetown's momentum. With just over seven minutes remaining, the score was 42-31 in Villanova’s favor.

Georgetown Stages Furious Rally

However, Georgetown pushed back with a strong run, scoring nine of the next ten points that brought them within just three points with just under five minutes left. L.J. Peak netted five points in the run for the Hoyas. However, the Hoyas would get no closer. The Wildcats continued to stave off the rallying Hoyas, scoring five straight points to bring their lead back up to eight points. Georgetown cut the deficit to three points twice more, including to 53-50 after a Reggie Cameron layup with just four ticks remaining on the clock. The Hoyas quickly fouled the Wildcats, but Ryan Arcidiacono (15 points) netted the clinching free throws, bringing the score to its final of 55-50.

Villanova Continues To Boost Contender Status

Villanova entered the season as a team to watch for sure. They were coming off a season in which they had claimed one of the four #1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. Even though they suffered an early exit in that tournament, the Wildcats still looked like legitimate contenders again. They started off well, with seven straight wins. But, when they faced their first real challenge in the Oklahoma Sooners, the Wildcats were humiliated, losing by a 78-55 decision. One game later, the Wildcats dropped a double-digit decision to their second big challenge of the year, the Virginia Cavaliers. The Wildcats dropped off the radar of most college basketball experts after suffering two bad losses to their first real challenges. However, the Wildcats have rebound in a big way. They handled previously undefeated Xavier with a dominant 95-64 victory, while also notching victories over Creighton, Seton Hall, and Butler during the streak. They added victories against strong squads in Marquette and Georgetown this week. Villanova has soared to #6 in the nation and, once again, is looking like a national contender. 

Inspiring Performance From Inconsistent Georgetown Squad

The Hoyas have suffered an inconsistent regular season, recording impressive victories against teams like Syracuse, Wisconsin, and Marquette. But, at the same time, the Hoyas have lost to squads like Monmouth, UNC-Asheville, and Radford. Having dropped from the rankings weeks ago, the Hoyas are looking to get back on track. Though this game ended in defeat, it might just be the game the Hoyas needed to get hot. They will need to improve on their shooting for sure, but they were able to stay with one of the hottest teams in the country, which is a great sign for Hoya fans. They'll have further chances to prove themselves, with games against Xavier and UConn looming, but the time for close losses and inspiring performances are over. These Hoyas have potential, but they need to start pulling in some victories to get themselves back on the radar in the world of college basketball. 

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