WASHINGTON — Georgetown Coach John Thompson III was so focused on the details of the game that he claimed not to notice a momentum swing when Marquette counterpart Buzz Williams was called for a technical foul in the second half.
But his point guard felt it.
“Yeah, absolutely,” the Hoyas’ Markel Starks said. “Absolutely.”
The 18th-ranked Golden Eagles were making a run at No. 15 Georgetown, having closed a 10-point deficit to three when Williams drew the technical for arguing an out-of-bounds call along the baseline with 12:13 to play.
The Hoyas responded with an 8-1 run immediately after the call, and Marquette didn’t get closer than eight points the rest of the way in Georgetown’s 63-55 victory Monday night.
“I was just hollering at somebody that wouldn’t respond,” Williams said. “We can make a big deal out of it if you want. I got a technical. I’m sorry. I may get a technical again next year - that’s my average - and it’ll probably be on the road.”
Otto Porter scored 11 of his 21 points after the technical, Starks finished with 16 points, and Georgetown scored 24 points off 19 turnovers to move into a tie with the Golden Eagles for second place in the Big East.
The Hoyas (18-4, 8-3 Big East) won their sixth consecutive and avenged a 49-48 loss at Marquette on Jan. 5.
Jamil Wilson scored 13points to lead the Golden Eagles (17-6, 8-3), who fell out of a first-place tie with Syracuse (8-2). Chris Otule scored eight of Marquette’s first 11 points but had only three the rest of the game.
Williams has five technical fouls in his five seasons at Marquette, according to the school, but he pushed the envelope repeatedly in the first half Monday with his now familiar strolls outside the coach’s box, twice venturing close to the midcourt circle with play under way. Georgetown fans began serenading him with chants of “Off the court!” in the second half.
Williams finally got the technical for disputing a call that could have gone either way. Porter made both free throws and then hit a floater on the ensuing possession to complete a four-point series that pushed the lead to 41-34.
Williams said “any time you get a technical it’s a bad time,” but he also cited the Golden Eagles’ 12 first-half turnovers and the fact that he didn’t have a player credited with an offensive rebound in the first 20 minutes as bigger factors in the loss.
With both teams playing aggressive defense and the officials calling a tight game, the flow was practically nonexistent. Instead of trading baskets, the Hoyas and Golden Eagles kept swapping some combination of turnovers, steals and offensive fouls.
Georgetown went nearly seven minutes without a field goal to start the second half, but the pace was so laborious that the Golden Eagles were able to outscore the Hoyas only 8-2 during that span.
Thompson said, “I don’t remember” when asked about the post-technical momentum shift. Instead, he cited improved rebounding as a key. Mikael Hopkins had a career-high nine rebounds.
“God bless him. Now that he’s got to do it again Saturday, Friday, whenever we play next,” Thompson said.
NO. 14 KANSAS 83, NO. 10 KANSAS ST. 62
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Ben McLemore scored 30 points on his 20th birthday, Jeff Withey dominated inside and No. 14 Kansas routed No. 10 Kansas State to snap a three-game skid and forge a tie for first in the Big 12.
Withey had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks, giving him 263 for his career, one shy of the conference’s career mark held by Chris Mihm of Texas. Withey even had a couple of steals as he helped the Jayhawks (20-4, 8-3 Big 12) pull even with the Wildcats (19-5, 8-3) in the league race.
Two of Kansas State’s losses have come against the Jayhawks.
Rodney McGruder had 20 points and Angel Rodriguez added 17 for the Wildcats.
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/12/2013