:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58094675/usa_today_10491255.0.jpg)
WHERE: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
TIME: 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
ONLINE: Fox Sports Go
RADIO: 106.7 WJFK
LINE: Georgetown (-27)
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting between the two schools. Georgetown is 17-0 all-time against Southwestern Athletic Conference schools.
The Georgetown Hoyas (9-1, Big East) will close out non-conference play on Saturday when they host Alabama A&M (0-12, Southwestern) in the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Georgetown enters the game after winning despite an inconsistent performance against North Texas (7-6, Conference USA) on Wednesday evening. Marcus Derrickson led the Hoyas with 17 points and seven rebounds in that game, while Jessie Govan added his seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Turnovers, which have plagued Georgetown all season, prevented the Hoyas from taking firm command in a game where they overmatched a smaller North Texas squad. However, the Blue & Gray responded well to the loss of Chris Sodom, who was dismissed from the team on Monday after a violation of rules, shoring up an eight-man rotation that features four guards (three of which come off the bench) and four frontcourt players.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, enter the game on a 12-game losing streak to start the season, with their latest loss coming to Michigan (11-3, Big Ten) on Thursday night in Ann Arbor, 97-47. De’Ederick Petty (11.3 points per game) heads a three-pronged offensive attack alongside Julian Walters (10.7 ppg) and Arthur Johnson (10.5 ppg). The Bulldogs struggle to shoot from anywhere on the court, converting on just 39 percent of all field goals, 34 percent of 3-point attempts, and 65 percent of free throws.
Saturday’s matchup will be Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing’s final chance to tinker with his team before starting Big East play. Coach Ewing has reiterated his desire to prepare for conference play, especially when asked about the tam’s non-conference scheduling philosophy. Should the Hoyas win on Saturday, they would enter the conference gauntlet with only one loss, an overtime heartbreaker to archrival Syracuse (10-2, ACC).
Following Saturday's action, Georgetown will host Butler (10-3, Big East) on Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m. ET in both teams’ opening conference game.