FInal: Georgetown 58, WSU 50.
9.0 remaining: G’town 58, WSU 49.
6:10 remaining: G’town 43, WSU 42. If nothing else comes of this effort, the Shockers can take hear in not backing down at all to a bigger, stronger team. Their wllingness to throw their bodies around and rebound is helping keep it close. Murry, with three fouls, is back in. He could be the guy to give WSU a few points it desperately needs. Monroe is scoreless this half, which must change for the Hoyas to win.
7:15 remaining: G’town 43, WSU 40. The Shockers blew two possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead down 40-38. Two turnovers gave the Hoyas a chance to go up five.
11:45 remaining: G’town 38, WSU 30. WSU is out-rebounding the bigger Hoyas 30-26. If the Shockers could get a couple putbacks they would be better off.
15:43 remaining: G’town 34, WSU 24. The Shockers don’t have an offensive option that works. The Hoyas are too big to score against inside. There are not many open looks on the perimeter. WSU is 1 for 8 in the half.
Halftime: G’town 26, WSU 22. WSU’s David Kyles scores his team’s final six points of the half – a three-point play and a deep three in the final seconds. WSU has to be thrilled. It shot 25.8 percent and committed eight turnovers. Yet, it is right there at halftime. G’town missed 8 of 9 threes and committed eight turnovers. It is very difficult for WSU to score. Marshall keeps yelling “move, move” but it doesn’t seem like there is anywhere to go. The Hoyas are big and physical and they seem to take up a bunch of space. Not many easy shots out there. Kyles leads WSU with 6 points. Ellis, Hannah, Durley and Chamberlain all have three. Monroe leads the Hoyas with 11 points. Freeman has 10.
3:59 remaining: G’town 21, WSU 15. Monroe is as good as advertised. He just picked up his second foul, which is a plus for WSU. This has got to be great experience for the Shocker big men to play against him. WSU obviously needs a score or two here to keep it close at the half. They have played hard to get to this point.
7:45 remaining: G’town 14, WSU 10. Aaron Ellis makes his first basket of the season – a three – to get WSU within four. G’town is 0 for 6 from three (it was 11 of 44 entering the game). WSU’s press and changing defenses seem to have thrown the Hoyas off a bit.
8:20 remaining: G’town 12, WSU 7. Neither team is shooting well. WSU would like the Hoyas to keep firing away from outside. WSU’s shots are bouncing around the rim and falling off.
11:29 remaining: G’town 10, WSU 5. Shockers survive and got some good minutes from the bench. They missed some shots in the lane – I won’t call them easy because of G’town’s height – that could have made it closer. The reserves hustled and took care of the ball, which is a good sign. Starters are back in for WSU, which is 2 of 13 from the field with five turnovers. Austin Freeman has eight of G’town’s points.
15:16 remaining first half: G’town 9, WSU 3. Rotten start for WSU. Turnovers. Bad shots. WSU coach Gregg Marshall pulled his five starters with 16:24 to play. Reggie Chamberlain hit a three to get the Shockers on the scoreboard. G’town is shooting layups and dunks after turnovers.
WSU starters – Stutz, Murry, Hannah, Hawksin, Clemente. G’town - Sapp, Summers, Wright, Monroe, Freeman.
Tennessee hammered Siena 78-64 in the first game, one the Vols controlled most of the way. The Vols are a lot better than they were in 2006, when WSU defeated them in the NCAA Tournament. They are deep, long and athletic. They made Siena look bad at times, but I would not expect the Saints to play that way twice in a row.