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Hibbert gets back on track, Georgetown routs DePaul

Jan 9, 2008 - 5:20 AM By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Roy Hibbert had 17 points and 11 rebounds as eighth-ranked Georgetown won its fourth straight game with a 76-60 triumph over DePaul in a Big East Conference matchup on Tuesday.

The Hoyas (12-1, 2-0 Big East) defeated the Blue Demons for the seventh straight time and have not lost to DePaul since January 22, 1994.

But the story was Hibbert, who had averaged just 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in his previous six games.

"Roy Hibbert was terrific and set the tone early," Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. "His energy was infectious for our whole team and his rebounding was great too."

The 7-2 senior scored four points as the Hoyas opened the game with an 11-0 run and Georgetown never led by less than nine points thereafter.

"They were 2-0 in the conference so we really pushed ourselves to be ready for them," Hibbert said. "I just tried to limit their big people to one shot when they were down low."

Leading by 13 points, Georgetown used another 11-0 spurt to take a 44-20 lead with 1:23 left in the first half.

"We knew we would have to play with energy the whole game," Thompson III said. "DePaul came in playing very well and they have several players who can beat you, not just one or two guys."

After leading by 21 at the break, Hibbert made two quick baskets to start the second half as Georgetown doubled up the lead on DePaul, 50-25, with 18:22 remaining.

"My teammates kept finding me," Hibbert said. "I was trying to get them involved and spread the offense."

DePaul went on an 8-0 run capped by Wesley Green's short jumper to pull within 54-37, but the Hoyas countered with an 11-3 spurt over the next 5:24 to take a 65-40 lead with 8:45 left in the game.

Hibbert made 7-of-9 shots from the floor for his second double-double of the season. He added a team-high five assists in his 100th career start at Georgetown.

"Roy Hibbert had his way most of the game," DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright said. "We continue to have difficulty with teams that play more physical, but they are (eighth) in the nation for a reason. They are very good."

Freshman Austin Freeman had 13 points and Jessie Sapp and Jonathan Wallace each added 12 for Georgetown, which shot 54 percent (31-of-57) from the floor.

Mac Koshwal had 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead DePaul (7-9, 2-1), which had its season-high four-game winning streak snapped.

"We forced shots early and they took advantage of it," Koshwal said. "They got the lead and we never could get it back."