Georgetown showed its versatility on offense in its most recent game. It might need more of the same to remain unbeaten Thursday night.
Finding ways to score could be difficult for the ninth-ranked Hoyas when they visit Temple looking to post the best start of coach John Thompson III's tenure.
Three-point shooting carried Georgetown's offense through November, shooting 44.9 percent from beyond the arc and hitting at least eight 3s in six of its first seven games.
Long-range shots were not as easily available Saturday against Utah State, and the Hoyas went a season-worst 2 for 9 from 3-point range but still won 68-51. Georgetown (8-0) shot 52.3 percent from the field to beat the three-time defending Western Athletic Conference champions, who entered the game holding opponents to 38.6 percent.
"Our team has done and is doing a good job of taking what the defense gives you. We don't have to make the 3s to win games," Thompson said. "Our goal offensively is to get a good shot, I don't care whether it comes in three seconds or 33 seconds."
Temple (5-2) is giving up 55.4 points per game and 37.2 percent shooting - both tops in the Atlantic 10.
It was a defensive struggle when these teams met in Georgetown's home opener last season, with the Owls losing 46-45. Both teams shot below 36 percent from the field and were a combined 6 for 41 from 3-point range.
Chris Wright had a game-high 15 points in that win, and he's the reigning Big East player of the week after scoring 21 in each of the Hoyas' two games. He had 10 assists in an overtime win over then-No. 9 Missouri on Nov. 30.
Wright was 6 for 9 from the floor Saturday, and Georgetown is among the national leaders in field-goal shooting at 51.0 percent.
"I think we've been shooting the ball well, but we're also guys who are aggressive who attack the basket," Wright said.
The Hoyas are 8-0 for the third time in four years, but they haven't had a better start since opening 10-0 in 2003-04 in Craig Escherick's final season as coach before Thompson took over.
Accomplishing that feat might not be easy at the Liacouras Center, where the Owls have won 10 straight since a loss to then-No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 2. The previous three ranked teams to visit Temple's home floor all lost.
The Owls were ranked as recently as two weeks ago before losing two of three games at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, but they've recovered with two straight wins.
Playing on Sunday near its opponent's campus, Temple became the first unranked team to beat Maryland with a 64-61 victory.
"Terrific win for us, no question about it, against a terrific basketball program," said coach Fran Dunphy, who will be going for his 400th coaching victory Thursday. "For us, it's sort of a road win and it's a game that hopefully we make some strides at being a better basketball team."
Ramone Moore fed Lavoy Allen for the go-ahead three-point play and scored 16 points for a second straight game. Temple is 5-0 when he reaches double figures.
While Allen seeks a third consecutive double-double, Georgetown star Austin Freeman looks to bounce back from his nine-point effort Saturday. The preseason Big East player of the year scored more than 30 in each of his previous two games.
