Saturday at Verizon Center, Providence’s leading scorer Marshon Brooks poured in a career-high 43 points against the Georgetown Hoyas. If he had scored 46 the Friars would have won. As it was, the Hoyas managed to outlast Providence, barely, ending up with an 83-81 victory. Brooks’ amazing performance was the fifth best scoring output in the history of the Big East Conference, and the highest point total that Georgetown has ever allowed against a conference opponent. Brooks scored 24 points In the first half, but the Hoyas were comfortably in front. The Hoyas opened the game with three straight three-pointers and led by 12 at the intermission.

To start the second half, Georgetown led by as many as 18 points, before Providence started clawing their way back. Georgetown’s offense grew stagnant, and the Friars continued to chip away. With five minutes to play, Providence had whittled the Hoya lead down to five points and had seized the momentum. In the final moments, behind a final surge from Brooks (including a 4-point play), Providence trailed by only one point in the final minute. Chris Wright made two free throws to re-extend the lead to three. Brooks was then fouled with 5 second to play and made both free throws to make the score 82-81. Again Wright was fouled, this time making only one of two, setting up a final possession for Providence. Of course, they gave the ball to Brooks, who was ambushed at halfcourt. The Hoya double team deflected the ball away and time expired. The Hoyas have now won six games in a row.

Austin Freeman led the Hoyas with 23 points, followed by Jason Clark with 18, Wright with 16, and Julian Vaughn with 14 – ten coming in the second half. The Hoyas go back on the road this Wednesday to take on Syracuse in the Carrier Dome at 7:00pm.