Monroe's career night carries Hoyas to win

Greg Monroe had 24 points and 15 rebounds - both career highs - to lead No. 15 Georgetown to a 72-65 victory over No. 22 Butler last night in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Monroe, last season's Big East rookie of the year, recorded his third double-double of the season as the Hoyas (7-0) used their size advantage to control the paint at both ends.

Georgetown finished with a 43-30 rebound advantage, outscored the Bulldogs (6-3), 30-16, inside and held Butler forward Matt Howard to nine points on 1-of-9 shooting.

The loss was the third in as many games against ranked teams for Butler, which hosts No. 13 Ohio State on Saturday. The Bulldogs, who lost to Minnesota and Clemson in the 76 Classic, have lost eight of their last nine games against teams in Top 25.

Austin Freeman was 4 of 5 from three-point range and added 18 points for the Hoyas.

Gordon Hayward had 24 points for Butler.

The 6-11 Monroe, who scored 21 points against Notre Dame as a freshman and had 13 rebounds against American last weekend, started slowly from the field, missing four of his first six shots. His defense against Howard was strong from the start as the 6-8 junior and reigning Horizon League player of the year missed his first eight shots from the field, many with Monroe having a hand in his face or leaning on him as he tried to establish position down low.

The Hoyas did go outside to take their biggest lead of the game as Freeman hits two three-pointers and Hollis Thompson made another from long range to make it 52-35 with 13:35 to play.

The Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run - that included Howard's first field goal, to get to 52-42. Monroe was all alone at the other end of the court for a monster dunk to end Georgetown's 4:13 scoreless drought. But Howard made two free throws and Hayward hit a three to get the Bulldogs to 54-47 with 8:37 to go.

The Jimmy V Classic is held annually to raise money for the V Foundation, the cancer research organization founded in the name of the late Jim Valvano.

In other games:

* At Texas Christian, John Roberson scored eight of his 21 points in a game-turning run that finally put No. 23 Texas Tech ahead as the Red Raiders (9-0) overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat the Horned Frogs, 80-70.

* At Penn State, Jeff Brooks had 14 points and five rebounds to lead the Nittany Lions to a 58-42 victory over Maryland-Baltimore County. Andrew Jones added 10 points and 10 rebounds and Talor Battle had seven points for the Lions (6-3).

* At Minnesota, Blake Hoffarber had 18 points and the Golden Gophers (6-3) scored the first 18 points of the game in a 94-64 victory over Morgan State.

* At Rhode Island, the Rams (6-1) overcame a 30-point, 15-rebound effort by Quinnipiac's Justin Rutty and won, 83-74. Keith Cothran's 21 points led URI. *