Liberty has won 4 straight games to open the season at 7-1, the program’s best mark through 8 games since 1991. Coach McKay’s squad, which is currently ranked #6 in the country in scoring defense, is in Washington, D.C. to tangle with the Georgetown Hoyas (6-1).
Georgetown is led by 2nd year head coach Patrick Ewing. Ewing returned to his alma mater after a 15 year stint as an assistant coach in the NBA which followed his Hall of Fame NBA career with the New York Knicks. In the schools’ only previous meeting, the Hoyas defeated the Flames, 68-59, in DC on November 14, 2012.
“I think our play continues to improve,” Coach McKay said following the team’s 26 point win over Georgia State Saturday night. “I try and judge us based on our expectations of what we do, not based off who we play. Obviously, Georgetown is really good. They’ve only lost once this year. It’s a storied program. Patrick Ewing, I mean, he’s a Hall of Famer. It will be fun for our guys. Hopefully we can keep climbing that level of competitiveness.”
Jessie Govan leads the Hoyas with 19.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The 6’10, 255 pound senior center is shooting 60% from the field while playing in over 32 minutes per game. 6’0 freshman guard James Akinjo is the other double figure scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game.
Another former Georgetown center and Hall of Famer, Alonzo Mourning, has an impact on this Hoya team as well as his son is a graduate student for the Hoyas. Trey Mourning is a 6’9″ forward that is averaging 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
“It’s a quick turnaround (for us),” McKay continued. “It will be our 5th game in 11 days. So, we’re trying to keep gas in the tank and get a little bit of rest before finals, and then we will re-evaluate and clean up some things that we need to work on.”
The game can be seen on FS2 with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 Monday night.
