No. 15 Georgetown beats Western Carolina 81-68

WASHINGTON (AP) — Greg Whittington scored a career-high 25 points, and No. 15 Georgetown beat Western Carolina 81-68 Saturday in a game played as executives discussed the future of the Hoyas and the Big East conference.

Jabril Trawick added a career-high 14 points, and Otto Porter had 12 for the Hoyas (9-1), who took control with a 13-3 run at the end of the first half against a school that fell to 0-38 against teams ranked in the AP poll.

Tom Tankelewicz made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Catamounts (4-7).

Georgetown is among seven Big East schools without top-level football programs who announced after the game they plan to split from the conference.

On the court, Georgetown had its second straight productive scoring game against a mid-major opponent following home clunkers against Tennessee and Towson, two games the Hoyas won despite scoring a combined 83 points. Georgetown scored 89 against Longwood on Monday and shot 49 percent against Western Carolina.

The Catamounts played Top 25 Illinois tough this month before falling 72-64. They made four quick 3-pointers early against the Hoyas to take 13-6 lead, but their reliance on the outside game could only take them so far. Tankelewicz made 6 of 11 from 3-point range and Trey Sumler hit 2 of 3 3-pointers; the Catamounts otherwise shot 16 for 38 from the field.

The Hoyas, whose only loss this season came against No. 1 Indiana in overtime, built their lead by forcing turnovers and getting to the free throw line. Leading 42-30 at halftime, they pushed the lead to 20 with a 14-6 run to start the second half.

Another spate of 3-pointers pulled the Catamounts within 12 with 1:37 remaining, but turnovers on the Western Carolina’s last two possessions allowed Georgetown to put the game away.

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