Back to Reality - Georgetown falls to Holy Cross

Georgetown had an 11 point lead with under 8 minutes to go in the game, but could not hold on to win it over Holy Cross, falling in a 68-67 heartbreaker on Saturday night in DC.

Holy Cross took its first lead of the game with less than a minute to go on a Joe Octave three pointer to give the Crusaders a one point lead. He finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds while making the final defensive play to keep the Hoyas from getting a shot off on the game’s final possession.

Georgetown led by as many as 8 in the first half and went into the locker room up 37-32. In the second half, the Hoyas lead grew to 11 at 57-46 with under 8 minutes to play, before Holy Cross rattled off an 11-0 run to tie the game at 57.

From there, the game swayed back-and-forth, with Georgetown continuously taking the lead only to be answered by the Crusaders.

With 2 minutes to go, Jayden Epps drilled a three for Georgetown to put the Hoyas up 4, 67-63. Epps led Georgetown in scoring with 22 points.

The Hoyas didn’t score again.

Over the final two minutes, the Hoyas went 0-2 from the field and 0-2 from the free throw line. With just under 3 seconds left, Georgetown had the ball but couldn’t even get a shot off, thanks to a great defensive play by Octave for Holy Cross.

And just like that, any momentum the Hoyas built in the opening night 37 point win evaporated in a 68-67 loss to Holy Cross.

In the game, Georgetown shot 36% from the field, 63% from the free throw line, and was outrebounded 41-31.

In the postgame presser, Georgetown Head Coach Ed Cooley did not pull punches.

“Normally the DNA of our organization is about toughness, about commitment to defense, and about commitment to unselfishness,” Cooley said. “And those things went out the window today for whatever reason.”

Georgetown had every opportunity to close out the game, but could not, and just as they have over the past few years with Patrick Ewing at the helm, the Hoyas fell to an inferior opponent at home in an overly sloppy and slow performance.

Fortunately, Georgetown has multiple upcoming opportunities to right some wrongs, beginning this Wednesday as the Hoyas hit the road for the first time this season to take on Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ.