2009-2010 Georgetown Hoyas Basketball: Georgetown vs Villanova

In a big-boy battle in a city as tough as Philadelphia, it's important to have more bodies on your side of the divide. The Villanova Wildcats punched out the Georgetown Hoyas in a vigorously-contested collision because they received more contributions from their roster.

Yes, on many levels, this attractive encounter was a fabulous throwdown involving three foremost stars. Georgetown's combo of Greg Monroe and and Austin Freeman combined for 51 points on 17-of-28 field goal shooting and a 13-of-19 effort from the foul line. Villanova's best performer, guard Scottie Reynolds, hit his first three 3-pointers and finished with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, plus seven free throws in eight attempts. Monroe, Freeman and Reynolds were the shining lights that a Wachovia Center crowd paid good money to witness, but when it came down to winning and losing in America's 16-team superconference, the difference lay in the Wildcats' better and longer rotation.

While John Thompson III saw his Hoyas create only four bench points, Villanova's reserves rose to the occasion in the City of Brotherly Love. Indeed, coach Jay Wright saw his band of basketball brothers create a united front that ultimately overcame the Monroe-Freeman axis of excellence.

Monroe - who will collect an NBA paycheck in the not-too-distant future - was guarded straight-up by Villanova's defense, and the 6-11 sophomore from New Orleans didn't lose sight of that reality. He scored from every position on the floor, hitting a 3-pointer in the first half while doing a lot of good work within 10 feet of the rim. The well-rounded center - and we're not talking about his body type - didn't succumb to nerves in this important outing against the Big East leader, and as a result of his mental clarity, Monroe allowed his talents to spill out in full flower. The sight was impressive to behold, and because Monroe brought his best stuff to the arena, Freeman - GU's best wing player - was able to play off his bigger teammate and get his own fair share of open looks. When Monroe and Freeman combine for 51, Georgetown will normally win.

On this day, though, the Hoyas lost. Just look at Nova's bench.

The Wildcats' backups outscored Georgetown, 25-4. That's an impressive (and decisive) statistic in its own right. But there's even more to the story: Nova's Maalik Wayns, a freshman guard who had done very little for the Cats through the first month of the season, scored 11 points off the pine, including four pressure-packed free throws which sealed the outcome in the final 15 seconds of regulation. Without Wayns and the rest of a resourceful set of second-stringers, Villanova wouldn't have been able to turn back the Hoyas' dynamic duo.

Strength in numbers is needed in the 16-team Big East. That's why Villanova is one of only two teams with an unblemished conference record.

Georgetown Hoyas vs Villanova Wildcats Basketball Recap