Maryland-Eastern Shore @ Georgetown preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2015 ) Maryland - E. Shore 49, Georgetown 68

Georgetown looks to start the Patrick Ewing era with three straight wins as it prepares to host Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon. The Hoyas outlasted Jacksonville 73-57 in Ewing’s debut before rolling past Mount St. Mary’s 102-68 on Wednesday as 6-10 junior Jessie Govan took a leading role with a big push from his new coach and former legend at the school.

“It’s a refresher, that coach Ewing has been really hard on me,” Govan, who is averaging 20 points and 14.5 rebounds, told reporters. “He makes that known, that he’s going to be hard on me. … so it’s nothing that I haven’t expected so far. I know everything that he’s trying to tell me is for my own good, I’m just trying to listen.” Ewing has told the media he wants his team to push the pace of the game, but Georgetown has averaged 17 turnovers in the first two contests. “If we’re going to beat the elite teams that we’re going to be facing in the Big East,” Ewing told reporters, “we have to cut our turnovers down.” The Hoyas should be able to move to 8-0 all-time against Maryland-Eastern Shore, which hammered Division III Valley Forge before getting routed by Maryland 96-43 last Sunday.

TV: Noon ET, FSN

ABOUT MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE (1-1): The Hawks from the MEAC, who lost 68-49 in the last meeting with Georgetown in 2015, have nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster - and many of them are leading the team early on. Freshman guard Cameron Bacote is averaging 23 points and seven assists, draining 19-of-35 from the field - including 8-of-19 from behind the 3-point arc. Freshman guard Sean Hoggs has made half of his 14 attempts from 3-point range and is scoring 11.5 points per game while sophomores Ahmad Frost and Tyler Jones have contributed 8.5 each.

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (2-0): Govan made 15-of-23 from the field with five total blocks in the first two games and told reporters: “If I play my hardest and lead this team, then we’re going to win.” Four other players are averaging in double figures, led by 6-7 junior Marcus Derrickson (14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) and freshman guard Jahvon Blair (12.5 points). Sophomore guard Jagan Mosely, who averaged 4.2 points last season, has drained 9-of-11 from the field in the first two contests and posted 24 total points with eight assists, a steal and six turnovers.

TIP-INS

1. The Hoyas are shooting 52 percent from the field and have connected on 21 of their 48 attempts from 3-point range.

2. Maryland-Eastern Shore had its scheduled game with St. Bonaventure on Wednesday cancelled due to a power failure.

3. Georgetown freshman F Jamorko Pickett is averaging 10 points, but made just 7-of-21 from the field in the first two games.

PREDICTION: Georgetown 82, Maryland-Eastern Shore 54