Navy men’s basketball team hadn’t beat a Big East Conference team in 24 years. Georgetown had never lost against a Patriot League team. Both narratives changed after Tuesday night.
Navy senior guard Cam Davis scored 28 points to lead the Midshipmen to a 78-71 win over Georgetown at McDonough Arena in Washington, DC.
Davis shot lights out, making 10-of-15 shots from the field, including 5-of-7 from three. Navy junior guard John Carter Jr. added 20 points and eight rebounds.
Jamarko Pickett and Jahvon Blair each scored 17 points to lead Georgetown. Navy is 3-1 for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Georgetown (1-1) was 12-0 all-time against the Patriot League prior to Tuesday’s loss. Navy’s last win against an Big East opponent was against Pittsburgh in 1996 at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. The win was their first road win against a Big East opponent since 1986, when a junior David Robinson guided the Midshipmen to a first round win in the NCAA Tournament against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
This was just the third meeting in 43 years between Navy and Georgetown. Navy last beat Georgetown in 1977.
The loss highlights the struggles of the Georgetown program entering Patrick Ewing’s fourth season as head coach. The Hoyas have lost several key players to transfers during Ewing’s tenure, including Mac McClung, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc.
That has led to a lack of depth on the roster. Georgetown’s bench scored one point in the loss against Navy.
Georgetown was picked to finish last in the Big East this year by coaches. Tuesday’s home loss to Navy laminated that prediction. How does Ewing fix the issues?
He’ll have to figure out the issues fast. Georgetown hosts No. 11 West Virginia Sunday afternoon. After a final non-conference game against Coppin State, Georgetown begins its Big East conference schedule at final four contender Villanova.
