With the lights shining on D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Hoyas senior exploded for a huge performance.
NEW YORK – With the lights shining on D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Hoyas senior went off for a career-high 33 points as Georgetown dominated a young St. John’s team, 93-73.
The hope for the future at St. John’s is that Chris Mullin and his staff can recruit the kind of star that Smith-Rivera has been at Georgetown.
The 33 points was the most by a player in a Big East game this season as he powered John Thompson III’s team to its fifth win in its last six games. The Hoyas host No. 6 Villanova on Saturday.
“I just think that he understands where everyone is and he understand where he is,” said Thompson III. “And he can score. At the end of the day, one key is he can put the ball in the basket.”
As for Smith-Rivera, who has scored 60 points in his last two games at The Garden against St. John’s, playing inside the Garden always means something special.
“It’s always great playing here,” said Smith-Rivera. “Everybody’s who has played here can not only explain the passion you feel when you play under these lights. I try to enjoy it every time I get to play here.”
Georgetown (11-6, 4-1 Big East) jumped out to a 9-3 advantage, but St. John’s (7-11, 0-5) kept it close for nearly the first 10 minutes of action.
It was 19-15, Hoyas, but it was then that former Hudson Catholic standout Reggie Cameron caught fire, hitting two three’s in as many minutes and sparking an 8-2 Georgetown run.
Cameron and sophomore Tre Campbell combined for two triples just minutes later, extending the advantage to 35-18 Hoyas with 6:42 remaining in the first half. The lead stayed at 17 at the break, with Georgetown up 45-28.
It was more of the same in the second half, as Smith-Rivera hit two early triples, scoring six of the Hoyas’ first eight points in the period. He would go on to score 20 in the second half, as Georgetown finished 28-of-54 from the field (52 percent), knocking down 10 triples.
Ron Mvouika led St. John’s with 15 points, but the Red Storm felt the absence of Yankuba Sima, who is out four- to-six weeks due to a left hand fracture.
Mullin’s team allowed Georgetown to shoot 33 free throws, of which the Hoyas hit 27.
“We were sleepwalking out there,” said St. John’s guard Durand Johnson. “We came out tonight and gave them shots, and they hit them.”
For a St. John’s team that has dropped eight games in a row, one would think the vibe in the locker room is negative. Mullin says his team is aware it’s all about the process of rebuilding.
“The way we’ve been playing, we’re going to win some games,” said the Red Storm legend and first-year head coach. “The only way we won’t is if we let a game like this get us down.”
TIP-INS
St. John’s hosted 2016 signee Shamorie Ponds and 2018 Hudson Catholic guards Jahvon Quinerly and Luther Muhammad.
Georgetown played without freshman forward Marcus Derrickson, who “banged knees” in practice earlier this week, according to Thompson III. The injury is believed to be minor.
The Red Storm next head to Indy to visit No. 23 Butler on Saturday. Tip-off will be at noon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Georgetown has now won twice at The Garden this year after beating Wisconsin in the 2K Sports Classic in November. On Saturday, the Hoyas host No.6 Villanova at the Verizon Center at 1 p.m.
Follow John on Twitter
