Even Green, G'town know they're lucky

"I had to step up," said Green. "I think we all had to step up."

Immediately following Hibbert's exit, Green produced a three-point play, tying the score at 60. Then Sapp put the Hoyas ahead on a full-court drive where it appeared he carried the ball. And Summers? He produced a clutch jumper that put Georgetown ahead 64-63.

That produced a tennis match down the stretch, with Green making the only play that mattered. Afterward, a relieved Summers embraced Green while Vanderbilt's Shan Foster -- one of the two Commodores guarding Green -- squatted on the floor, clutching his head in disbelief.

"To be perfectly honest," said Vanderbilt senior Dan Cage, "I'm a little shocked. I'm more surprised than I am upset."

He should be. Vanderbilt outhustled, outshot and outplayed the Hoyas for most of the game. The Commodores jumped to first-half leads of 18-6 and 27-14, largely on the strength of 3-point shooting, then stayed with their opponent down the stretch. At no point did they ever trail by more than three.

"It's always difficult when you lose one like that," said Stallings. "(The loss) doesn't diminish or detract from my pride in our basketball team. I wouldn't feel any better about our basketball team if that shot had missed and we won."

Of course, the shot didn't miss ... and Vanderbilt didn't win. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. On this night, Georgetown was both.

"I'm glad," said winning coach John Thompson III. "We were really fortunate that we won."

No kidding.