1/20/2004

Courtland Freeman ended the Hoyas’ losing streak on 1/20/04 with a monstrous jam in the final half second of regulation to give Georgetown (11-3, 2-3) its first win over St. John’s (4-11, 0-5) in eight tries dating back to the 1996-97 season. The 71-69 victory capped an epic battle which included 16 lead changes and in which neither team led by more than 6.

Courtland Freeman scored the second double-double of his career as he led all scorers with 18 points, all rebounders with 12 caroms and set a career high in assists with 7. Darrel Owens added 15 tallies, Brandon Bowman contributed 14 and Gerald Riley scored 11, rounding out the quartet of Hoyas in double figures. Ashanti Cook set a new career high in assists with 8, including the pass to Courtland for the game winner.

In the first frame the shooting was off and the ball handling was sloppy as GU shot 35.5%, St. John’s shot 33.3% and there were 17 turnovers. Down by 6 with 01:25 remaining in the half, Courtland made a tip in and Bowman sank a pair from the stripe to go into the locker room –2, 34-36.

In the second half, both teams radically improved their shooting. St. John’s hit 50% from the field and the Hoyas 54.2%. With Georgetown up by 2 and 00:23 remaining, a dunk by Reynolds knotted the score at 69. Ashanti Cook held the ball until the closing ticks, penetrated and passed off to Freeman who scored the game winner with 00:00.5 on the clock. Brandon Bowman intercepted the Red Storm’s inbound pass as the clock expired.