The Hoyas escaped from the Prudential Center with a 80-75 win over the Seton Hall Pirates, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic loss. It was a quizzical performance, as Georgetown looked dominating at times, completely ineffective at others, but in the end the Hoyas did just enough to get the win and improve to 3-4 in Big East play.

Georgetown took an early lead and held it for most of the first half, taking a seven point lead into halftime, 38-31. A three pointer by Hollis Thompson put Georgetown up by 10 a minute into the second half, and one got the sense that the Hoyas were ready to pull away.

However, Seton Hall responded, going on a 19-2 run that spanned over eight minutes, and put the Pirates in control of the game. Georgetown tried to get back into the game but continued to trail as the Hoyas were unable to stop the Pirates from scoring. Georgetown trailed by six with under three minutes to go.

But, coming down the home stretch and staring a 2-5 conference record in the face, the Hoyas rose to the occasion. Julian Vaughn scored two key baskets and the Hoyas converted from the free throw line to take a three point lead with under 30 seconds to play. After a pair of misses and offensive rebounds for the Pirates, Jordan Theodore made a base line jumper that upon first glance looked to tie the game, but his toe was on the line.

Chris Wright added two more free throws, and then Austin Freeman fouled Keon Lawrence before Seton Hall had a chance to take a game-tying three. It was unclear whether the foul was deliberate or accidental, but it paid off, as Lawrence missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Georgetown will return home from their road trip with two wins.

Austin Freeman had a game high 28 points, including four big free throws down the stretch. Jeff Robinson had 19 points, and Theodore added 17 for the Pirates in the losing effort.

The Hoyas now have a week off to rest and re-energize before they return to action at Verizon Center. The team will have a chance to return to .500 in conference play, with the added incentive of avenging the loss to the Red Storm earlier in the month. Tip-off against St. John’s is at 7 PM.