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Harvard-Georgetown Preview

Dec 23, 2009 - 12:38 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Harvard (7-2) at Georgetown (8-1), 12:00 p.m. EDT

Even before a surprising loss in its last game, Georgetown was unlikely to take its matchup against Harvard for granted.

The 14th-ranked Hoyas try to bounce back in their final non-conference game when they host the Crimson on Wednesday afternoon, looking to win their 22nd straight at home over non-Big East opponents.

Georgetown (8-1) had plenty of momentum heading into its game against Old Dominion on Saturday after winning back-to-back contests against ranked opponents. The Hoyas, though, turned in one of their worst performances of the season in a 61-57 loss to the Monarchs.

Georgetown shot 30.0 percent in the first half and trailed the entire way. It had nine turnovers and nine points in the first 13 minutes and finished with 18 turnovers, including five by Julian Vaughn.

Leading scorer Greg Monroe had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the team's second-lowest scoring game of the season. Monroe attempted only nine field goals and had four of his team's eight misses at the free-throw line.

"If I had to pick something, it would be turnovers because that's something we can control," coach John Thompson III said. "We have to hit our free throws, but the turnovers are something we have to stop doing. We have to make sure we get a shot. We're a very good offensive team but we have to make sure we get shots."

Georgetown had averaged 79.8 points in its previous five games.

Saturday's game against Old Dominion was played at McDonough Arena and although it was considered a home game for Georgetown, the Hoyas winning streak over non-conference opponents at the Verizon Center remains at 21.

Extending that streak against a Harvard (7-2) team off to a surprising start won't be an easy task. The Crimson nearly upset No. 11 Connecticut earlier this month, then followed that with a 74-67 win over Boston College on Dec. 9.

The start is Harvard's best since opening 1984-85 with eight straight wins, and the team is coming off an extended break for final exams.

Jeremy Lin scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and Keith Wright added 21 points in the win over the Eagles. Lin went 5 of 6 at the free throw line in the final minute to help clinch the win. The Eagles were held to 37.5-percent shooting.

"Right now we have a good rotation, we're playing a lot of players and I think they're staying fresh," coach Tommy Amaker told the Crimson's official Web site. "If we're lucky to keep guys healthy and keep the right work ethic and attitude that the kids have, then I'm very confident that we can keep moving."

Lin, who is averaging a team-leading 18.6 points, has been a big part of Harvard's fast start, providing some senior leadership on a young roster. He went 7 of 10 from the field against Boston College after matching a career high with 30 points in his previous game against the Huskies. He is one of two upperclassmen in the starting lineup.

Wednesday's game will feature two of Division I's best shooting defenses. The Crimson are holding teams to 39.0-percent shooting while Hoyas' opponents are shooting 37.1 percent.

Harvard and Georgetown have met twice before, with the Hoyas winning both, most recently during the 1976-77 season.