12/16/2004

The Hoyas (4-3) encountered some problems in their first round matchup with Oral Roberts (8-0) in the 41^st Outrigger Rainbow Classic, falling 63-81 to the Golden Eagles.  Roy Hibbert set a new career high as he paced the Hoyas scoring with 14 points. Ashanti Cook contributed 13 tallies as did Jeff Green. Both Green and Hibbert pulled down 5 boards but Brandon Bowman paced the Hoyas rebounding with 7 boards while scoring 8 points.

The Hoyas started well, leading in the opening minutes, but the Eagles’ hot shooting (60% from the field vs GU’s 42.9%) and ability to capitalize from the charity stripe (12-16 vs GU’s 5-5) quickly built them a lead that Georgetown could not overcome.  At intermission the Hoyas trailed by 10, 32-42. In the rebounding category, the Hoyas trailed 11-16.  

In the second half, although the Hoyas reduced the Golden Eagles shooting percentage to 40.6% while increasing their own to 44%, the deficit could not be erased. On three occasions GU cut ORU’s double digit lead to 4, but each time the Eagles answered. Taking twice as many shots from the stripe, (11-14 vs 4-10 for GU) Oral Roberts also continued to dominate the boards 14-21.

The loss puts the Hoyas into the consolation bracket and will match them with Long Beach State, who fell to Hawaii 45-54 on Monday night.