The Georgetown Hoyas needed every ounce of grit to put away the Saint Peter’s Peacocks in an overtime thriller, 76–68, at McDonough Arena on December 13.
It was a night marked by a breakout performance in the paint, a backcourt that just couldn’t click, and a coach who didn’t sugarcoat a thing as his team heads into the heart of Big East play.
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Georgetown Survives Saint Peter’s Scare in Overtime
For most of regulation, Georgetown looked like the better team, building and holding a steady lead.
But if you’ve followed college hoops, you know Saint Peter’s never goes quietly—they’re the same program that shocked everyone in the NCAA Tournament not long ago.
The Peacocks showed their toughness again, storming back late and forcing overtime after capitalizing on a flurry of Hoya turnovers.
In the extra period, Georgetown regrouped and outscored Saint Peter’s 16–8 to finally shut the door, pushing their record to 7–3.
It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes in December, you just take the win with a sigh of relief.
Julius Halaifonua’s Breakout Night in the Paint
The story of the night for Georgetown was sophomore center Julius Halaifonua, who put together the best performance of his young college career.
Halaifonua poured in a career-high 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, anchoring the Hoyas offensively when the perimeter attack froze up.
He logged over 30 minutes for the fifth straight game, which says a lot about his growing role and stamina.
Halaifonua’s presence gave Georgetown a steady option when the offense stalled, and his physicality helped hold off Saint Peter’s whenever they tried to swing the momentum.
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Backcourt Struggles and Tough Coaching Words
While Halaifonua shined, Georgetown’s backcourt had a rough night.
Guards Malik Mack and KJ Lewis combined for just two field goals across 65 minutes—a stat that would sink most teams in a tight game like this.
Mack’s box score—7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists—shows a mixed bag, but he finished as the only Hoya with a negative plus-minus.
Head coach Ed Cooley didn’t miss that, and he was blunt in his postgame comments, voicing disappointment in both Mack and Lewis and stressing that the program demands accountability, especially from its guards.
The most telling moment came in overtime, when Cooley made a bold move: he sat Mack and turned to graduate forward Jeremiah Williams.
Williams stepped up with 10 points and was named player of the game, steering the offense with calm and maturity when it mattered most.
Cooley’s Accountability and the Crowd Question
Ed Cooley didn’t just point the finger at his players—he turned it on himself, too, taking responsibility for Georgetown’s shaky execution late in regulation.
The turnovers that let Saint Peter’s back in, he said, were as much about preparation as individual mistakes.
Cooley also sent a message to the student body.
Despite scheduling the game during finals to encourage attendance, the student turnout was disappointing.
The coach let his frustration show, hinting that building a winning culture needs energy from the stands as much as from the locker room.
Looking Ahead to Big East Play
With the Saint Peter’s scare in the rearview, the Hoyas now face a major step up: the start of Big East play.
They’ll open on the road against Marquette at Fiserv Forum on December 17—a real measuring stick game against one of the league’s best.
If Georgetown wants to compete in a rugged conference, they’ll need more consistency from the backcourt and continued dominance from Halaifonua inside.
And honestly, they’ll have to find the composure to protect leads late against high-level opponents. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long winter.
What This Game Means for Saint Peter’s—and Jersey City
From a Saint Peter’s perspective, the effort in Washington, D.C. really shows what this program’s about. They’re tough, resilient, and honestly, just not scared of those bigger-name teams.
Pushing Georgetown to overtime on the road? That’s another notch for the Peacocks. It’s getting harder for anyone to overlook them—or want to face them, for that matter.
Back home in Jersey City, that means something. Saint Peter’s isn’t just a local team; it’s this gritty underdog that fits the city’s vibe perfectly.
Fans can plan a whole day around a Peacocks game. Grab food at neighborhood spots, wander through those city districts that give Jersey City its character—it all adds up.
If you’re coming in to catch a Saint Peter’s game, there’s plenty to do in Jersey City before tipoff or after the buzzer. Waterfront views, alumni-packed bars, and streets full of culture make a Peacocks home game a solid anchor for a weekend trip.
Then there’s the practical stuff. Finding where to stay in Jersey City matters, especially with the city’s hospitality scene growing fast.
Newer Jersey City hotels near transit and the waterfront make it easy to pair college hoops with good food and nightlife. Whether you’re a visiting fan or an alum coming back, it’s convenient.
Getting to Jersey City from New York or farther out isn’t a hassle. PATH trains, light rail, highways—they all keep Saint Peter’s basketball within reach. And honestly, that’s just as accessible as a Peacocks squad taking a Big East team to the wire in overtime.
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Here is the source article for this story: MEN’S BASKETBALL | Hoyas Hold On, Avoid Brutality
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