UPDATE 11:08 p.m.: Final from the Verizon Center: Cincinnati 68, Georgetown 64. Crucial turnovers down the stretch did in the Hoyas — including Otto Porter dribbling out of bounds with 7.2 seconds left — overwhelming a night when they shot 61 percent from the field. Also, Hollis Thompson didn’t score in the second half and, at times, appeared to move gingerly on the left ankle he tweaked early in the second half.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: Yes, that was Henry Sims rising from a scrum in the post to block a would-be dunk by Cincinnati big man Yancy Gates. Another statement for Sims in a much-improved senior season.
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UPDATE 10:21 p.m.: Beautiful behind-the-back bounce pass by Nate Lubick — showing off some point guard skills — to find Otto Porter under the hoop for an easy layup. That put Georgetown up 51-46 with 11:29 left and forced a Cincinnati time out.
UPDATE 10:06 p.m.: Having some issues with molasses-like Internet. Will update as technology permits in the second half.
UPDATE 9:47 p.m.: Quite a shooting display by Hollis Thompson to send Georgetown to the locker room with a 34-32 halftime lead. Thompson banked in a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, a shot that left the crowd buzzing. The junior scored 11 of the Hoyas’ final 14 points, including three 3-pointers. Georgetown has been hampered by nine turnovers, but has done a nice job of finding open shots for Thompson open shots amidst Cincinnati’s pressure defense.
UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Scary collision between Greg Whittington and Ge’Lawn Guyn diving on the floor for a loose ball in front of Cincinnati’s bench. Guyn got the worst of it, writhing face-down on the court before two staffers helped him off. The wobbly-legged freshman couldn’t stand on his own.
UPDATE 9:20 p.m.: Five straight points for Dion Dixon — including a 3-pointer after Cincinnati missed its first three shots from beyond the arc — cuts Georgetown’s lead to 11-7.
Decent crowd, by the way, given the late start and that football game in New Orleans.
UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: Five minutes into the game, Henry Sims came up limping after a collision under the basket playing defense. Appeared to be his right ankle, but nothing serious. Georgetown leads, 7-2.
UPDATE 9:05 p.m.: Usual starters for Georgetown — Clark, Lubick, Sims, Starks and Thompson.
Cincinnati goes with Dixon, Gates, Kilpatrick, Parker and Wright.
8:54 p.m.: Good evening from the Verizon Center where we’re a few minutes from Georgetown’s only 9 p.m. tipoff of the season.
Interesting pre-game tweets from former Hoyas point guard Chris Wright. You may remember Wright broke a bone in his left hand during last season’s meeting with Cincinnati here.
So, earlier tonight Wright tweeted: “they ended my career … revenge game!!”
The injury, of course, didn’t end Wright’s career. But he didn’t return until the NCAA Tournament opener against VCU in Chicago, which the Hoyas dropped.
