The Georgetown Hoyas will need to pick up their level of play to avoid missing the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the third time in four years. Georgetown has lost four games in the non-conference season and is already reaching a critical juncture as it faces off against the La Salle Explorers.
La Salle just kept it close against the No. 1 team in the nation, Villanova, and will aim to knock off another big conference foe. However, Georgetown will likely be the favorite since it has a better track record of success.
This war on the floor will go down Saturday, December 10, 2016, at 2 p.m. ET at the AmericanAirlines Arena. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Georgetown is 5-4 straight up but only 1-6 against the spread this season as much more was expected of the Hoyas early on. Georgetown has been unable to cover in four games as the favorite this season and will likely get another crack at it in this one.
La Salle is 4-3 straight up and 4-2-1 against the spread this season. The Explorers have covered as the underdog each time and hope to keep that trend going.
Player To Watch
Rodney Prior – The Georgetown senior guard is leading the team in points per game right now, averaging 20.8 points a game. He has been playing really well lately, putting up 20-plus points in the last three contests.
In the Hoyas’ most recent win over La Salle, Prior scored 23 points and he put up a season-high 32 points against USC Upstate in the first game of the season and also scored 30 Coppin State on November 30th. The senior will be looking to continue his hot streak against La Salle this weekend.
The Explorers gave up a big game to Villanova’s guards last time out and could be vulnerable to Prior’s talent in this one.
Letdown Situation
La Salle could very well be emotionally exhausted after putting up a really nice fight against Villanova last time out. The Explorers only trailed by four points at the half and hung around until the final few minutes before finally succumbing by a score of 89-79.
La Salle shot 52.5 percent from the field and Pookie Powell had a career game, scoring 27 points, but it wasn’t quite enough for the monumental upset.
If the Explorers play that well again, they will very likely win this game. However, it’s tough for a team to put back-to-back big-time performances together against power conference foes.
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Georgetown had a losing record a season ago and if it doesn’t start improving it could happen again. The team’s best win came early in the season when it knocked off a ranked Oregon team.
That was the good Hoyas team that showed up, but they also have a loss to Arkansas State on the resume. Georgetown has played well of late with three straight wins to get back above .500 and hopes to pick up another victory.
La Salle has scored the ball at a high rate this season but Georgetown has done pretty well defensively. The Hoyas have the more athletic team and higher-end talent, but if they don’t play together this one has the danger of being an upset.
The Explorers are a team that can put a scare into major-conference foes, as Villanova learned last time out. Georgetown has underperformed thus far in 2016-17 but there is plenty of time to turn it around. The Hoyas will make a nice statement in this one with a much-needed win as they aim to get back into the March Madness tournament after missing out a season ago.
College Basketball Odds: Georgetown 78, La Salle 71
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