Hot-Shooting Ohio Upsets Georgetown

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The biggest upset of the NCAA tournament's first day was as shocking for its scope as its occurrence. Ohio University, a 14-seed that reached the tournament only with a surprise run through its own conference tournament, ran out to a huge lead and routed third-seeded Georgetown 97-83.

The MAC champion Bobcats rained 3-pointers all game long, running up huge leads on a Georgetown team that reached the Big East final five days earlier and had allowed just over 65 points per game for the season. Ohio led by 12 points at the half and extended the lead to 19 with 13:11 left in the game. Georgetown cut the lead to seven in the final four minutes, but Ohio just kept answering with threes, and the Hoyas couldn't get enough stops to make a run.

Bobcat guards Armon Bassett and D.J. Cooper and forward Tommy Freeman were a combined 10-for-18 from 3-point range in the game, shooting with supreme confidence while the Hoyas couldn't get their offense in sync. Georgetown's leading scorer, Austin Freeman, picked up two fouls in the game's first six minutes and never got going. Add to that the Hoyas' uncharacteristically porous defense, and you have a game that Ohio controlled throughout.

The loss ended a frustrating, up-and-down Georgetown season in which the Hoyas beat elite teams such as Duke, Villanova, Syracuse, Butler and Temple but also suffered surprising losses to teams like South Florida and Rutgers. It also may have ended the college career of sophomore center Greg Monroe, who many believe will leave the Hoyas for the NBA draft this spring. If he does, he'll leave behind an unsatisfying postseason college career. The Hoyas lost their first-round game in the NIT last season and now have been bounced in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament.

Key Element

Ohio's shooting. It certainly wasn't a stellar defensive performance by the Hoyas, but the Bobcats made so many extra passes and created so much space in which to shoot their shots that their numbers were off the charts. They were 8-of-16 from three-point range in the first half and 5-for-7 in the second, thwarting all of Georgetown's attempts to get back in the game by converting efficiently on the offensive end.

Game Ball Goes To

Bassett. The former Indiana and UAB guard, whose college career has been marred by reports of failed drug tests, led the Bobcats to the MAC tournament title as a No. 9 seed and continued his scorching play in the first round of the Big Dance. He finished with 32 points on 9-for-18 shooting and was 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

Heart Goes Out To

Chris Wright. Georgetown's junior point guard is usually a measuring stick for the team. But on this night, Wright played brilliantly and his teammates did not follow suit. He played all 40 minutes and finished with 28 points.

What's Next

Ohio will try to prolong its Cinderella run into the Sweet 16 when it takes on the Tennessee-San Diego State winner Saturday here in Providence. The Bobcats have won six in a row and eight of their last nine.