No. 7 Georgetown Escapes Providence With 79-70 Victory

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Providence, RI (Sports Network) - Chris Wright and Julian Vaughn stepped up with 21 and 19 points, respectively, to lead No. 7 Georgetown to a tough 79-70 victory over Providence at Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Hoyas (18-5, 8-4 Big East), fresh off a statement win over Villanova on Saturday, started slow but made 60.7 percent from the field in the second half to notch their third win in four games.

Greg Monroe filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for Georgetown, which received a 17-point effort from Austin Freeman.

Jamine Peterson posted 23 points and seven rebounds for Providence (12-12, 4-8), which lost its fourth straight game despite winning the battle on the glass 42-31 -- 22 coming on the offensive end. Marshon Brooks and Sharaud Curry chipped in 18 and 12 points, respectively, in defeat.

Georgetown used a 14-1 spurt to take its first lead of the second half after struggling to solve Providence's porous defense for the first 25 minutes.

Wright's steal and coast-to-coast bucket while being fouled highlighted the run, as the free throw gave the Hoyas a 49-48 edge eight minutes in.

Two more Wright free throws capped the rally for a 54-48 advantage near the midway point of the half, and the Hoyas never gave up the lead.

Providence was within two, 56-54, a few minutes later, but the visitors scored eight of the next 10 points to pull away, as Monroe's inside basket resulted in a 64-56 lead with four minutes remaining.

It was at least a two-possession game the rest of the way.

The Friars were down 16-9 early in the game, but clawed back to knot things at 22 on a Peterson bucket with just under six minutes left in the half.

An 8-0 run a little later had the hosts sporting a 33-29 lead before Freeman's basket made it a two-point game going into the break.

Peterson opened the second half with a three-pointer, and Brooks added another one from long range for a 41-33 lead two possessions later.

Bilal Dixon had 16 rebounds -- eight offensive -- for the Friars, who play at Villanova on Saturday...Georgetown, which next plays at Rutgers on Sunday, has beaten the Friars on four straight occasions...Georgetown made 51.7 percent from the floor, while the Friars made just 34.4 percent of their shots.