Washington , DC--

What was billed as one of the biggest rivalries in the Big East certainly lived up to its hype tonight as the Georgetown Hoyas took on the No. 8 Syracuse Orangemen... at the conclusion the overrated chants from the crowd certainly established who was the better team.

After pulling out a victory on Saturday against Providence, the Hoyas needed another strong victory tonight to get back in the thick of things of the Big East and they did that soundly jumping out to a 50-32 lead at the half and only letting Cuse pull close early the beginning of the second half.

Georgetown had another big night from DeJuan Summers, who led the Hoyas with 21 points, and Austin Freeman, who added 19, and also helped the Hoyas with his stellar shooting from long range, hitting on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Everyone was very good today," Hoyas Coach John Thompson said.

For Syracuse the normally hot Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf carried the load in the second half and kept the Orange in the game, but it was the bench that might have changed the game for Syracuse. Netting just two points from their bench besides Devendorf is not going to win many games in the Big East.

Devendorf help Syracuse come as close as they would in the second half with a three pointer with 5:32 remaining to cut the score to 77-66.

After a foul by Syracuse's Kris Joseph and missed three pointer by Flynn the Hoyas continued to stretch the lead to 14 at 80-66 on a jumper by Greg Monroe with 4:06 remaining.

The Hoyas all but closed the door on Cuse when Austin Freeman hit a lay-up with 1:35 remaining pushing the lead to 14 again at 84-70.

After the game Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim commented on the switch from a man to a zone defense and how that didn't even break down the best in the Hoyas shooters.

"We gave them open looks, and they knocked them down," Boeheim said. "We played equally bad in both defenses."