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Georgetown pounds UConn, clinches share of Big East title

Mar 3, 2007 - 10:54 PM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- In ending a drought against a bitter rival, Georgetown may have claimed a long-awaited crown.

Roy Hibbert scored 18 points to lead the 10th-ranked Hoyas to a 59-46 triumph over Connecticut in Big East Conference play.

With the victory, Georgetown (23-6, 13-3 Big East) clinched at least a share of the conference regular-season title. The Hoyas can win the conference outright if Pittsburgh loses at Marquette on Saturday night.

"Sitting on top feels pretty good," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "We still have a long way to go though and we'll take it one step at a time."

Georgetown has not won the Big East's regular-season title since the 1988-89 campaign and last claimed a share of the crown in 1991-92.

"We had a goal to start this season to be Big East champs," said Georgetown senior swingman Jeff Green, who scored 14 points. "It feels good to reach that."

The Hoyas also ended a long losing streak against the Huskies (17-13, 6-10), who had won the previous 11 meetings between the schools. The last time UConn lost to Georgetown was February 3, 1997.

"I've been waiting three years to beat UConn," Green said. "It feels great. This was an important game. It gives us a big boost heading into the (conference) tournament."

The 7-2 Hibbert shot 7-of-13 from the floor to pace four Hoyas in double figures and grabbed 12 rebounds.

"We are doing a good job running our offense and getting everybody involved," Hibbert said. "All year, people keep saying we are all about the big guys. But our guards have been hitting big shots and playing great defense all season."

"We got Roy involved early," Thompson added. "He got good position and was very assertive, which he needed to be."

Patrick Ewing Jr. scored 12 points off the bench and Jonathan Wallace chipped in 10 for Georgetown, which also locked up the top seed in next week's conference tournament.

Since losing three of their first seven games this season, the Hoyas have won 19 of their last 22 contests.

"I like how we have bounced back this season," Thompson said. "We've had a lot of games like today where we've struggled at the start but kept our poise and put it together for a win."

Clinging to a 30-26 lead at the break, the Hoyas opened the second half with a 15-1 run capped by a pair of free throws by Ewing, who pushed Georgetown's advantage to 45-27 with 14:06 left.

"Our defense was key during the run," Thompson said. "We did a good job limiting them to one shot and then getting out in transition."

Jeff Adrien scored 14 points to pace the Huskies, who shot just 35 percent (19-of-53) en route to their third straight loss.

"We're a young team that has a lot of growing to do," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. "We took a lot of shots we didn't have while they took good shots they had."