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Freeman powers Hoyas over Memphis

Dec 24, 2010 - 4:16 AM Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - Austin Freeman poured in 24 points and pulled down five rebounds, as the 10th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas took down the 16th- ranked Memphis Tigers, 86-69, in a non-conference battle from FedEx Forum.

Chris Wright added 19 points for the Hoyas (11-1), who have won three in a row since their lone loss of the season against Temple on December 9. Julian Vaughn chipped in 15 points and 10 boards.

Will Barton finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers (9-2), who had won two straight since being beat by Kansas on December 7. Will Coleman and Tarik Black added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Swingman Wesley Witherspoon made an unexpected return to the lineup for Memphis. The junior had surgery just two weeks ago on his right knee, and was supposed to be out for five weeks. He started Thursday and recorded three points and three rebounds.

"Georgetown is a very good team, and we knew that coming in," Memphis head coach Josh Pastner said. "They have veteran guys, and they can flat out play. It just shows you that they shot the heck out of it today. You're not going to beat a team that shoots 57 percent from the field. We went zone and got hurt, so went back to man and we tried to force more difficult shots and better defensive matchups, but they just shot the daylights out of it."

A tight first half resulted in the Hoyas taking a 40-36 lead into the locker room.

Ahead by four, 44-40, early in the second half, Georgetown created some breathing room with a 14-5 run. Freeman, Wright and Hollis Thompson each had four points during the surge. Freeman's layup with 13:20 to play gave the Hoyas a 58-45 lead.

Memphis stayed within about 10 points before the Hoyas put the game out of reach late. Holding a 70-59 margin with 5:39 remaining, Georgetown ripped off eight straight points to build a 19-point cushion.

"It wasn't a huge tactical change. You just come into halftime and challenge them (the players)," Hoyas head coach John Thompson III said. "We have to do what we do better, than what they do. I think our guys did a good job of doing that in the second half."

Game Notes

Georgetown owns an 8-2 series lead over Memphis...The Tigers have an overall record of 118-14 at FedEx Forum...The Hoyas shot 56.9 percent from the field, while the Tigers made just 39.4 percent of their shots...Thompson ended with nine points.