WASHINGTON (AP) -- How deep is Georgetown (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP)? Look at birthday boy Wesley Wilson, a reserve center averaging 14 minutes a
game, scoring 18 points in Thursday night's 79-62 victory over UNLV.
|  | | Georgetown's Cortland Freeman swats the ball away from UNLV's Vince Booker. |
"You saw how well Wesley can play if the stupid coach gives him some minutes," said Hoyas coach Craig Esherick, whose team has lost just once this season.
Wilson had plenty of incentive against the Rebels. It was his 21st birthday, and he was facing the high school coach who didn't give him much playing time in high school.
The Hoyas needed him, especially on a night when starting guards Demetrius Hunter and Kevin Braswell were both 2-for-9 from the field. Georgetown trailed by 10 after 4½ minutes and didn't have a field goal until Wilson made three in a row. Wilson, a sophomore who didn't play last year because of academic reasons, made 7 of 11 shots and neutralized UNLV's inside threat, Kaspars Kambala.
After the game, Wilson said all the right things about team play and contributing off the bench, but the modesty did crack when he was asked about the dunk that punctuated his night with 12 seconds to play.
"I did that one for my birthday," Wilson said.
Wilson and Braswell played for UNLV interim coach Max Good at
Maine Central Institute. Neither started on a team that went
undefeated and won the New England Prep School Athletic Conference
championship, and Good knew they would be wanting to impress him.
"It's human nature that they wanted to play well," Good said. "Wesley concentrated hard on academics when he was at our place, but you knew he was going to be a really good player. He had size and he's got strength. He came to the right system."
The Hoyas missed their first seven shots and trailed by 10
points within five minutes, but Wilson started the comeback, and
strong offensive rebounding had Georgetown ahead 41-35 at halftime.
The Hoyas opened the second half with an 11-3 run, forcing three
quick turnovers and holding the Rebels to one field goal over five
minutes.
Georgetown (17-1), playing its last non-conference game of the
season, rebounded from its only loss, a 70-66 defeat to Pittsburgh
last Saturday. UNLV (11-8), also wrapping up its non-conference
schedule, has lost three of four after winning seven straight.
Forward Dalron Johnson led UNLV with 14 points before leaving
with a sprained his left ankle midway through the second half.
Lou Kelly and Kambala had 12 points each for the Rebels, who are
0-3 against ranked teams.
After shooting just 39 percent in a half-court first half, the
Hoyas picked up the tempo at both ends and continued to dominate
inside. Gerald Riley, Mike Sweetney and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje all
scored in the paint at the start of the second half.
The Hoyas led 68-47 before four straight baskets before the
Rebels cut the lead to 13 points. But UNLV never got within single
figures thereafter.
Nine Hoyas played at least 15 minutes.
"They've got so much depth and power," Good said. "They've
got all their bases covered."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Nevada Las Vegas Clubhouse
Georgetown Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Georgetown's Wesley Wilson makes the sweet pass to Mike Sweetney for the jam.
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Georgetown's Kevin Braswell works the fast break and finds Gerald Riley for the hoop.
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Georgetown leaves Kaspars Kambala all alone under the hoop for the jam.
avi: 731 k
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Dalron Johnson powers his way up for the basket and foul.
avi: 917 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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