No. 22 Xavier uses strong 2nd half push to defeat Georgetown
CINCINNATI - Edmond Sumner overcame a painful left shoulder and led a second-half surge that swept No. 22 Xavier to an 86-75 victory over Georgetown on Sunday, ending the Musketeers' longest losing streak in three years.
Xavier (14-5, 4-3) had dropped three straight - all against ranked Big East teams. The Musketeers allowed a 12-point lead to slip away in the second half on Sunday before their injured point guard frustrated the Hoyas (10-10, 1-6) again. Sumner had a career-high 28 points in an 81-76 win at Georgetown on Dec. 31.
Sumner wore a support on his injured left shoulder and sat on the bench grimacing late in the first half. He had a jumper, a three-point play and a pair of free throws during a 12-3 run that put Xavier in control 70-61. He finished with 14 points.
Trevon Bluiett led Xavier with 24 points. J.P. Macura added 20.
Rodney Pryor scored 23 for Georgetown, which lost for the sixth time in seven games.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Xavier dropped from 15th to 22nd last week after road losses to Villanova and Butler. A home loss to Creighton on Monday put Xavier in danger of dropping out of the Top 25.
BIG PICTURE
GEORGETOWN: Junior guard L.J. Peak scored 21 points and had six rebounds in the loss to Xavier on Dec. 31, keeping the Hoyas in the game with clutch shots down the stretch. The Musketeers clamped down in the rematch - he was only 3 of 12 for 12 points.
XAVIER: Free throws again were an issue early. Missed free throws were a major factor in the Musketeers' 72-67 loss to Creighton on Monday, when they went only 16 of 29 from the line. They drove to the basket and drew fouls on Sunday but were only 12 of 19 from the line in the first half, which ended with Xavier up 34-33. The Musketeers finished 36 of 49 from the line overall.
UP NEXT
The Hoyas host No. 7 Creighton on Wednesday. They split their series last season, with each winning at home.
The Musketeers play at crosstown rival Cincinnati, which is ranked No. 20. Xavier has won three in a row and seven of the last nine in the annual game.