Skip to main content

No. 18 Marquette falls 63-55 to No. 15 Georgetown

By WTOP Staff

By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) – After getting a second-half technical foul that swung the momentum in No. 18 Marquette’s 63-55 loss to No. 15 Georgetown on Monday night, Buzz Williams figured it was time for a history lesson.

“I was trying to get my average up on technicals,” the Golden Eagles coach said. “I’m averaging one every 50 games, so I felt like I needed to get one because I haven’t had one in two years. That was my fifth technical since I’ve been here.”

Nevertheless, this one happened after Marquette had cut a 10-point deficit to three. When Williams got T’d up for arguing an out-of-bounds call along the baseline with 12:13 to play, the Hoyas responded with an 8-1 run. The Golden Eagles didn’t get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

“If you average one technical a year in a BCS league, I think you’re probably doing OK,” Williams said. “I think we have the best officials in the country. I was just hollering at somebody that would respond.

“We can make a big deal out of it if you want. I got a technical. I’m sorry. I may get a technical again next year – that’s my average – and it’ll probably be on the road.”

Otto Porter scored 11 of his 21 points after the technical, Markel Starks finished with 16 points, and Georgetown scored 24 points off 19 turnovers to move into a tie with the Golden Eagles for second place in the Big East. The Hoyas (18- 4, 8-3 Big East) won their sixth straight and avenged a 49-48 loss at Marquette on Jan. 5.

Jamil Wilson scored 13 points to lead the Golden Eagles (17-6, 8-3), who fell out of a first-place tie with Syracuse (8-2). Chris Otule scored eight of Marquette’s first 11 points but had only three the rest of the game.

Williams indeed has five technicals in his five seasons at Marquette, according to the school, but this was a case of using up his reservoir of goodwill long before the call that cost him. He pushed the envelope repeatedly in the first half with his now-familiar strolls outside the coach’s box, twice venturing close to the midcourt circle with play under way. Georgetown fans began serenading him with chants of “Off the court!” in the second half.

Williams finally got the technical for disputing a call that could have gone either way. Porter made both free throws and then hit a floater on ensuing possession to complete a four-point series that pushed the lead to 41-34.

Williams said “any time you get a technical it’s a bad time,” but he also cited the Golden Eagles’ 12 first-half turnovers and the fact that he didn’t have a player credited with an offensive rebound in the first 20 minutes as bigger factors in the loss.

“I’m not sure you can win in Division I at home or on the road with those type of numbers,” he said.

With both teams playing aggressive defense and the officials calling a tight game, the flow was practically non-existent throughout. Instead of trading baskets, the Hoyas and Golden Eagles kept swapping some combination of turnovers, steals and offensive fouls.

Georgetown went nearly 7 minutes without a field goal to start the second half, but the pace was so laborious that the Golden Eagles were only able to outscore the Hoyas 8-2 during that span.

Asked if he felt a momentum shift after the technical, Georgetown coach John Thompson III was so focused on the details of the game that he claimed not to remember.

Asked the same question, Thompson’s point guard gave an emphatic nod.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Starks said. “Absolutely.”

—

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote