WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Xavier held off a late Georgetown rally to secure an 80-77 victory in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Capital One Arena. The Musketeers improved to 9-4 overall, while the Hoyas fell to 8-4. Georgetown led 40-35 at halftime, but Xavier outscored the Hoyas 45-37 after the break to clinch the road win. The combined score of 157 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 150.5. Georgetown had been a 4.5-point favorite. Attendance was 5,077. The game was a conference opener for both teams. Xavier next hosts Connecticut on Dec. 31. Georgetown is scheduled to host Coppin State on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a tense Big East Conference clash that came down to the final possession, the Xavier Musketeers edged the Georgetown Hoyas 80-77 on Saturday night at Capital One Arena. The game, played before a crowd of 5,077, was a tale of two halves and ultimately decided by a critical defensive stand in the closing seconds. Georgetown, leveraging its home court and a significant size advantage, controlled much of the first half. The Hoyas built their lead behind the interior presence of 7-foot center Julius Halaifonua of Auckland, New Zealand, who scored 19 points and blocked two shots, and the dynamic guard play of hometown product Malik Mack from Oxon Hill, Maryland, who added 21 points. Xavier, however, weathered the early storm and trailed by just five points at halftime, 40-35. The Musketeers emerged from the break with renewed focus, quickly erasing the deficit. The second half evolved into a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes and six ties, with neither team able to build a cushion larger than six points. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds. With Xavier clinging to a 78-77 lead after Roddie Anderson made two free throws, Georgetown had a chance to take the lead or tie. Following a timeout, the Hoyas inbounded the ball to Mack, whose driving layup attempt was met and cleanly blocked by Anderson with 24 seconds remaining. Georgetown retained possession and called another timeout. On the ensuing play, the Hoyas worked the ball to Halaifonua, who powered inside for a dunk that would have put Georgetown ahead. The shot was again swatted away, this time by Xavier’s Tre Carroll, preserving the one-point lead with 17 seconds left. Georgetown was forced to foul, and Anderson returned to the line, sinking two more free throws to extend the Xavier lead to 80-77 with 10 seconds remaining. Georgetown had one final opportunity to force overtime. Mack launched a contested three-pointer from the wing that missed, and a desperation tip attempt also failed as time expired, sealing the hard-fought road victory for the Musketeers. Carroll, a 6-foot-7 forward from Port Charlotte, Florida, led all scorers with 22 points for Xavier, adding four assists and a pivotal late block. His efficiency inside was complemented by the all-around play of Serbian forward Filip Borovicanin, who tallied 11 points, four assists and a block. Anderson, from Orange County, California, provided a crucial spark off the bench with 14 points and four assists, while Malik Messina-Moore of Ventura, California, also scored 14. For Georgetown, the offensive output from Halaifonua and Mack was supported by 15 points from KJ Lewis of El Paso, Texas. The Hoyas struggled from the free-throw line, a factor that proved costly in a three-point game. With the win, Xavier improves to 9-4 overall and earns a valuable conference road victory. The Musketeers, who were coming off a 41-point loss to Creighton earlier in the week, showed resilience to bounce back. Georgetown falls to 8-4 with the loss. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Xavier had a 61.2% probability to win pregame, though Georgetown had been installed as a 4.5-point favorite by oddsmakers. The combined score of 157 points went under the betting over/under line of 150.5. Xavier next hosts Connecticut on New Year’s Eve. Georgetown will look to regroup quickly, hosting Coppin State on Monday before resuming Big East play against St. John’s on Dec. 31.

Preview: Xavier Looks to Rebound Against Georgetown in Big East Clash WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Xavier Musketeers visit the Georgetown Hoyas in a Big East Conference men’s basketball matchup at Capital One Arena. Xavier (8-4) enters reeling from its worst performance of the season, a 98-57 home loss to Creighton on Wednesday. The Musketeers, who had won five of their previous six, were dominated in every facet, shooting just 34.5% from the field. Georgetown (8-3), meanwhile, is riding high after a signature 78-69 road victory over then-Marquette on the same night. The win marked the Hoyas’ most impressive of the season and showcased their potential under second-year coach Ed Cooley. The matchup features a compelling contrast in backcourt stars. Xavier will lean on guard Malik Messina-Moore, who scored 14 points in the loss to Creighton and has been a steadying force, averaging 7.1 points and 4.0 assists over his last seven games. His ability to facilitate and manage tempo will be critical for a Musketeers team seeking to regain its footing. For the Hoyas, the surge is led by dynamic guard Julius Halaifonua. He poured in 21 points and dished four assists in the win at Marquette, following a 22-point effort against Saint Peter’s. Over his last five games, Halaifonua is averaging 18.8 points, providing Georgetown with a consistent offensive catalyst. Historically, this series has been tightly contested, adding another layer to Saturday’s game. Both teams sit at 8 wins overall, making this an early benchmark game for conference positioning before the bulk of the league schedule arrives in January. For Xavier, the focus is on a swift response. “We have to have a short memory in this league,“ Musketeers coach Sean Miller said after the Creighton defeat. “The only way to fix it is to compete together on the next play, the next game.“ Georgetown will aim to protect its home court and build momentum. “We took a step, but it’s just one step,“ Cooley cautioned. “Xavier is a proud, well-coached team. We expect their absolute best.“ Tip-off is set for noon EST Saturday at Capital One Arena. The game will be televised on Fox Sports 1.