If you were watching the Georgetown vs Xavier basketball game on December 20, 2025, you didn't just see a Big East thriller. You saw a meltdown. Honestly, it's the kind of moment that people will be talking about at the Cintas Center and Capital One Arena for a decade. It wasn't just about the 80-77 final score. It was about what happened when the clock hit zero—and the water bottle that changed the narrative of Ed Cooley’s season.
Sports are weird like that. One minute you’re coaching a blue-blood program through a rebuild, and the next, you’re in the middle of a PR nightmare.
The December 2025 Meltdown at Capital One Arena
The game itself was a classic. Georgetown came out swinging, looking nothing like a team that had struggled for years. They actually led 40-35 at the half. Malik Mack, who is basically the engine of this Hoyas offense, was cooking. He scored his 1,000th career point during this game. You’ve gotta respect that, especially given the pressure of the Georgetown jersey.
But Xavier is... well, they're Xavier. They have this annoying habit of never going away. Even with Sean Miller now down in Austin coaching the Texas Longhorns, the Musketeers haven't lost that grit.
Xavier trailed by as many as 10 points. Then, the second half started and things got messy for the Hoyas. Tre Carroll decided he wasn't going home with a loss. He put up 22 points, 14 of those in the second half. He was bullying people in the paint. Georgetown’s big man, Julius Halaifonua, had a solid night with 19 points, but Xavier’s bench just crushed them, outscoring the Georgetown reserves 22-9.
When the final buzzer sounded, it was 80-77, Musketeers.
The Incident Nobody Can Forget
Now, here is what most people get wrong about that night. They think Ed Cooley just lost his temper because of a bad call. It was deeper than that. The Hoyas had shot 43 free throws—the most an opponent had ever taken against Xavier since 2010. They had every chance to win. But they shot a miserable 58% from the line.
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As the game ended, Cooley grabbed a water bottle and hurled it toward the stands. It hit a spectator.
The fallout was instant. The school suspended him for the next game against Coppin State. It wasn't a "slap on the wrist" situation; it was a "we need to save our reputation" move. Cooley apologized, calling it "unacceptable," but the damage to the 2025-26 season vibe was done.
Georgetown vs Xavier Basketball: A History of Friction
You can't talk about this matchup without acknowledging the Big East context. Since Xavier joined the conference, they've basically treated Georgetown like a personal punching bag. Coming into 2026, the Musketeers have won a huge chunk of their recent meetings.
- The Sean Miller Factor: Even though Miller left for Texas in March 2025, his fingerprints are all over this Xavier roster.
- The Recruiting War: Both schools are constantly fighting over the same four-star guards in the DMV and the Midwest.
- The Contrast: Xavier is the model of Big East stability. Georgetown is the legendary program trying to remember how to win.
The Musketeers have this "blue-collar" identity that clashes perfectly with the "Georgetown Swagger" of the 80s and 90s. When they meet, it’s rarely a blowout. It's usually a physical, borderline-ugly game where the refs blow the whistle every 30 seconds.
Why Georgetown Keeps Falling Short
If you’re a Hoyas fan, it’s frustrating. Truly. Against Xavier, they had the talent. K.J. Lewis is a legitimate star, averaging nearly 15 points a game this season. Malik Mack is one of the best floor generals in the league.
The problem? Turnovers and "50-50" balls.
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In their most recent games against top-tier Big East talent—not just Xavier, but that heartbreaking loss to UConn on January 17—Georgetown looks like a top-25 team for 35 minutes. Then, the wheels fall off. Against Xavier, it was the free throws. Against Creighton in mid-January, it was a buzzer-beater that got waved off.
It feels like there's a ghost in the program. Cooley said it himself after the UConn game: "Our men are a little bit wounded emotionally." That’s a heavy thing for a coach to say.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Standings
Don't let the record fool you. As of late January 2026, Georgetown is sitting near the bottom of the Big East standings (around 1-7 in conference play), while Xavier is fighting for a top-three seed.
On paper, it looks like a blowout waiting to happen. In reality? Georgetown’s Net Rating is actually much higher than their record suggests. They’ve lost so many "one-possession" games that Vegas still treats them with respect.
Xavier, meanwhile, is a 3-point machine. They’re currently ranked second in the Big East in 3-point percentage, shooting around 35.8%. If you leave guys like Jovan Milicevic open, you’re dead. That’s exactly what happened in the December matchup. Georgetown played a "prevent" defense that didn't actually prevent anything.
Breaking Down the Key Players
If you're betting on the next Georgetown vs Xavier basketball game, you have to look at these specific matchups:
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- Malik Mack vs. Roddie Anderson III: This is the game. Mack is faster, but Anderson is a physical defender who knows how to get under a point guard's skin.
- The Glass: Xavier outrebounded Georgetown 45-36 in their last meeting. Filip Borovicanin is a beast on the boards. If Georgetown can’t find a way to box him out, they have zero chance.
- The Bench Depth: Xavier’s rotation goes 9 or 10 deep. Cooley has been leaning heavily on his starters, which explains why they keep collapsing in the final five minutes. They’re exhausted.
Looking Ahead: The Rematch
The next time these two meet, the atmosphere is going to be toxic—in a good, "college sports" kind of way. Xavier fans aren't going to let Cooley forget the water bottle incident. You can bet there will be plenty of "Dasani" jokes in the student section.
But for Georgetown, it’s about survival. They need to prove that the "wounded" era is over.
They have the size with Vince Iwuchukwu and the scoring with Lewis. What they lack is the "killer instinct" that Xavier seems to have inherited from the Sean Miller era and maintained under the current staff.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following this rivalry or looking to understand where these programs are headed, keep an eye on these three things:
- Monitor the Free Throw Percentage: Georgetown is literally losing games at the charity stripe. If they don't get that above 70%, they won't beat Xavier or anyone else in the Big East.
- Watch the Transfer Portal Rumors: With the way the season is going, expect both teams to be aggressive in the spring. Xavier needs to replace some veteran scoring, and Georgetown needs a "closer."
- Check the Injury Report on Vince Iwuchukwu: He’s the X-factor. When he’s healthy and starting, Georgetown’s defense is top-tier. When he’s out, the paint is a layup line for Xavier's forwards.
To truly understand the trajectory of this matchup, watch the first five minutes of the second half in their next meeting. That’s where Xavier usually makes their move, and where Georgetown has to prove they can punch back.