Hoyas win thriller in Indy

January 11, 2014 - Georgetown withstood a late Butler charge at Indianapolis, Indiana's Hinkle Field House, overcame multiple reductions based on foul disqualification, pushed the game to overtime and came away victorious 70-67 in a BIG EAST battle this evening. The stats might not read beauty, Blue and Grey eyes would paint a different picture.

First the ugly numbers: Georgetown's respectable 45.3% from the field was undone by its 4-20 from three point land mark. Equally as bad was just half of the Hoyas' 16 free throws being sunk. Though Butler's 75.8% (25-33) from the charity stripe was much better and crucial in keeping the Bulldogs close, they were ultimately undone by 33.3% from the field and a horrendous 2-21 (9.5%) on long balls.

Nevertheless Butler, down eight for a huge swath of the second half, took its first lead with just 3:19 in regulation after a pair of free throws from freshman center Andrew Chrabascz, a second half force who scored all of his 14 points after intermission. Chrabascz also logged six rebounds.

Hoya reserve, senior wing Aaron Bowen, getting 29 minutes tonight due to starter Jabril Trawick suffering a broken jaw this week, then scored and converted an and-one, followed by two more free throws for Chrabascz. Hinkle, with an attendance of 9,460, was rocking.

Over the next roughly two and a half minutes, Hoya sophomore guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera chipped in two free throws, after which Butler junior guard Alex Barlow scored five points, setting the stage for Georgetown's Markel Starks: Despite having struggled from long distance all night long, going 1-6 from deep to that point, the senior point guard pulled up from 22 feet with just 16 seconds remaining. The successful shot pushed G'Town into a 60-60 tie, eventually forcing overtime. The game was no longer ugly for Hoya fans.

Starks continued his work in overtime, nailing a jumper and three free throws, the last creating the final score. He finished with 15 points and five rebounds.

His backcourt mate and Indianapolis native Smith-Rivera logged a team high 18 points and five assists, plus seven rebounds in his first time playing as a collegian back home. Eleven of his points were tallied in the first half. Both he and Starks played 44 minutes.

Butler was paced in scoring by sophomore wing Kellen Dunham's game high 21 points. He would add four rebounds, but only score four points - including two free throws - in the second half, and none in overtime. Georgetown seemed to target him after intermission.

Adding to the Hoyas' challenge were five foul totals reached by forward Nate Lubick and center Moses Ayegba, both seniors, and junior forward Mikael Hopkins. Losing that trio, along with junior center Joshua Smith being in DC due to academic concerns, basically eliminated the Hoyas' frontline from competition (sophomore Bradley Hayes did not play presumably due to coaches decision).

Lubick was disqualified after possibly having his nose broken by an errant elbow with 4:12 in regulation, Ayegba followed him to the pine as the clock read three minutes and nineteen seconds, while Hopkins joined them with just forty eight seconds in regulation.

Ayegba had a team high eight rebounds to go along with six points. Bowen reached double figure scoring, notching 11 points to go along with five rebounds. His overtime dunk with slightly less than a minute in extra-time broke a 64-all log jam.

Former walk-on, senior forward John Caprio logged just three points, four rebounds and two assists, but provided an active body and competed. He was thrust into unenviable position due to injury, absence and attrition, yet performed admirably for Georgetown over 16 minutes, a career high.

Khyle Marshall, a senior Butler forward, accounted for 18 points and four rebounds before fouling out himself. His teammate, junior Kameron Woods led the game with 10 rebounds.

Via the win, G'town moves to 3-1 in BIG EAST play, 11-4 overall. Thompson's crew finishes up a three game road trip at Xavier on Wednesday, January 11th, at 7p.

Butler (10-6), still in search of a league win at 0-4, travels to Creighton. The game, a 9p start, is also on Wednesday.

Our Premium Court message board is abuzz with chatter regarding the game. Subscribers can join the discussion.

Non-HoyaReport.com members can sign up, ultimately at a vast discount by utilizing the offer below. Do so quickly, as supplies are limited!

Click Here to view this Link.