Butler, WVU defense hamper Georgetown
As easy as the points came for Da’Sean Butler, they couldn’t have been harder to get for Georgetown.
Against an opponent that was supposed be a step down for team already brutalized by the early portion of their Big East schedule, the Hoyas instead were worked over by a physical West Virginia defense in a 75-58 loss in front of 12,875, their second stinging defeat at home this season and one that comes ahead of a three-game road trip, their longest stretch away from Verizon Center this season.
Butler finished with 27 points, slightly more that the same number of turnovers (19) committed by the Hoyas.
Down by nine late in the first half and again early in the second, Georgetown (12-5, 3-3 Big East) fought its way back to a two-point deficit when Greg Monroe (11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) found Omar Wattad on a backdoor cut to make the score 45-43.
But the Hoyas got no closer, missing three consecutive 3-pointers — finishing the night 2-for-16 beyond the arc — while Butler drove freely to the basket and Alex Ruoff (10 points, 9 assists) hit a three during a 9-1 run that gave the Mountaineers their first double-digit lead, 54-44, with just over seven minutes remaining.
Devin Ebanks set the tone defensively immediately for the visiting Mountaineers (14-4, 3-2), blocking the first shot attempt of the game by Monroe.
West Virginia still missed seven of its first eight shots, allowing the Hoyas to take a 9-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Jessie Sapp.
But Georgetown then turned the ball over on four of its next five possessions, and West Virginia took advantage, with Butler scoring 10 of his 15 first-half points during a 12-2 run to give the Mountaineers a 14-11 lead.
The Hoyas finished the half with as many turnovers (11) as field goals, none worse than Julian Vaughn having the ball poked loose at the top of the key by Ebanks, who slammed the ball home at the other end for a 29-22 advantage, prompting an eruption of “Go Mountaineers” cheers from the upper tier of the arena.
After another jumper by Butler, Monroe and Austin Freeman each made key defensive plays pull the Hoyas within five, 31-26, at halftime.
