Smith-Rivera Leads Georgetown Over DePaul, 70-53
NEW YORK (AP) — D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and Georgetown pulled away from DePaul for a 70-53 victory Wednesday night in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
Smith-Rivera, a second-team All-Big East selection and the fifth-leading scorer in the conference with a 16.3 average, took over in the second half, scoring 11 points in the Hoyas' 16-2 run that gave them their first 18-point lead of the game, 55-37 with 8:56 to play.
The eighth-seeded Hoyas (15-17), who snapped a six-game losing streak, will face top-seeded and third-ranked Villanova in Thursday's quarterfinals.
Bradley Hayes and L.J. Peak both had 10 points for Georgetown, which shot 50 percent for the game (23 of 46) while holding the Blue Demons (9-22) to 37.9 percent (22 of 58). The Hoyas were third in the conference this season in field goal percentage defense (41.1).
Eli Cain scored 14 points to lead the ninth-seeded Blue Demons, who end the season on a four-game losing streak. DePaul has lost eight of its last nine Big East Tournament games.
Georgetown closed the first half on an 8-0 run to go up 35-24. Kaleb Johnson converted a layup as time ran out and a review by the officials ruled it came too late.
Georgetown shot 50 percent (12 of 24) in the first while the Blue Demons were 9 of 29 (31 percent).
TIP-INS
DePaul: Cain was selected for the All-Big East freshman team, the third straight year a Blue Demon was so honored. His teammates Billy Garret Jr. and Tommy Hamilton IV were named to the team after their freshman seasons. ... Cain came into the game leading the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (43.7). He was 0 for 2 in the game.
Georgetown: Smith-Rivera is the only player in the Big East to be in the top 10 in seven statistical categories. ... Georgetown has been to the postseason in all 11 seasons under coach John Thompson III. ... Seated behind the Georgetown bench were Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers John Thompson Jr. and Patrick Ewing. ... Georgetown and Connecticut are tied for the most Big East Tournament titles with seven.
UP NEXT
DePaul: Season over.
Georgetown: will face Villanova in Thursday's quarterfinals.
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