No Sentiment in This Reunion for John Thompson--Hoyas Win by 73

A look at their early-season schedules might not have told you which was the Division I team. A look at their play left no doubt.

Georgetown scored the final 21 points of the first half and the third-ranked Hoyas beat the University of the District of Columbia 112-39 for the third-largest margin of victory in schoolistory.

Why were these teams playing each other?

Well, Georgetown coach John Thompson was a high school teammate of UDC coach George Leftwich.

“He asked me over the summer if we could play, and I asked him if he really wanted to do it,” Thompson said.

Georgetown beat St. Leo 126-51 in December 1976 and beat Shenandoah 114-40 in December 1988. The Hoyas threatened to break their record but UDC scored the final four points of the game.

“I told him if he got too good, we wouldn’t play him again,” Thompson joked. “I tried to beat the hell out of him. I wouldn’t disrespect him by letting up.”

Georgetown (7-0) has played only three Division I teams this season. UDC (6-5) is in Division II.

The Firebirds, who hope to move up to Division I in 1991-92, have beaten all their Division II opponents and lost to all their Division I opponents.

“If they’re gonna play in Division I, they’re gonna have to reach a comfort level in this type of setting,” Thompson said.

Leftwich said: “It was a little tough sitting out there, but we understand we’re out there bear hunting with a switch. The kids grew up today. They got a few hairs on their chests.”

Alonzo Mourning scored 15 points and Mark Tillman 13 for the Hoyas. Georgetown took a 4-0 lead and UDC tied it on Keith Goodie’s jumper at 17:55. The Hoyas then went on a 7-0 run and added runs of 10-0 and 12-0. The final spurt of the half gave the Hoyas a 65-18 lead.

UDC, which did not score in the final 6:47 of the first half, broke its drought when Erik Johnson scored with 1:12 into the second half, making the score 70-20. The Firebirds trailed by as many as 77 points in the second half.

“It was a good experience for my kids,” Leftwich said. “I can sit and tell them, and I do, that you’ve got to turn it up a notch if you want to be Division I. They don’t understand it, but today they saw it.”

Johnson scored 20 points for the Firebirds. Georgetown got 12 points each from Dikembe Motumbo had reserve Antoine Stoudamire.