Backups to the rescue

November 20, 2015 - A team is comprised of all its parts, which Georgetown proved versus Wisconsin. How? Via 31 points from its bench, with one little used junior stepping up big time, helping propel the team to its 71-61, 2K Classic win over Wisconsin this evening.

The player mentioned above was forward Reggie Cameron, a 6'7", New Jersey native returning to his home area to score 14 points in NYC's Madison Square Garden. Four of his five made shots were three balls, all of his points were made in the first half, with several being generated by him lifting the defense weak side, receiving the ball via ball reversal.

But that doesn't tell all the story; Cameron accounted for two rebounds, assists and steals. Defensively he pulled two charges against Wisconsin, while finding himself locked on Nigel Hayes, a Badger mainstay. Hayes, a junior forward, led all scorers with 22 points but was forced to work for them.

Wisconsin only received nine points from leading scorer Bronson Koenig. Before tonight the junior guard averaged 19 points each time out.

The Badgers shot just 33.3% overall, 31.1% from three point land, with G'Town's primary defense, a man to man scheme, focusing on Koenig and Hayes.

Freshman forward Ethan Happ stepped up with 12 points and a game high nine rebounds for Wisconsin, now 2-2 on the year.

Georgetown shot considerably better, notching 43.8% of their shots from the field, 56.3% of three balls. Sinking 20-24 free throws (83.3%) did nothing but help their effort.

Jessie Govan, a freshman center, joined Cameron off the bench in double figure scoring, tallying 13 points and a respectable five rebounds. His three assists tied with senior guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera to pace the Hoyas, the latter also scoring 12 points and pulling down a team high seven rebounds, work logged despite persistent second half foul trouble.

That leads to a key game note: G'Town only had one experienced, ball handling guard on the roster in Smith-Rivera, as sophomore Tre Campbell didn't make the trip. Alas, Wisconsin didn't capitalize as it's not head coach Bo Ryan's style to press or trap, though they did pick up full court with just 1:12 remaining in regulation.

It is Head Hoya John Thomson III's penchant to ride a hot hand, and his crew did in the second half, repeatedly finding forward Isaac Copeland. A sophomore, he finished with 15 points - Hoya tops - and six caroms, despite drawing his fourth foul with just less than six minutes on the clock.

Copeland's eight straight points over about two and a half minutes helped put G'Town ahead 52-40 with 8:28 remaining in regulation. Georgetown (2-1) would not lead by less than seven after that.

Thompson's guys next face the winner of #5 ranked Duke and VCU, a 1p EST, MSG tip-off.

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