Georgetown sophomore guard Malik Mack played through illness to drop a 37-point performance against the Washington State Cougars in the first round of the College Basketball Crown Monday night in Las Vegas, Nev.
Despite missing multiple players due to illness, Mack led the Hoyas to a second-half comeback against Washington State, leading a trio of Hoyas in double figures with a career-high 37 points, going 8-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Georgetown Hoyas Prevail Despite Widespread Team Illness
Shortly before the game against Washington State, it was announced that Georgetown would be missing multiple key players due to illness. Sophomore guard Malik Mack was supposed to be part of that group, but he fought through the pain and played—an act that earned him the utmost praise from his head coach, Ed Cooley.
“Malik’s not feeling well. He wasn’t supposed to play today. When you show that type of fight.. anythings possible. I’m really proud of him.”@GeorgetownHoops HC Ed Cooley gave high praise to Malik Mack after his 37 point performance pic.twitter.com/m849PTBtIN
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 1, 2025
“Malik’s not feeling well. He wasn’t supposed to play today. When you show that type of fight… anything’s possible. I’m really proud of him,” Ed Cooley said after the game.
Mack’s five three-pointers in the first half is a season-high for a Hoya in half, first or second, surpassing the previous best of four. His game-wide eight three-pointers in the game is a new career best for the sophomore, surpassing his previous best of five at UMass in November 2023.
The Georgetown Hoyas will face Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown on Wednesday, presenting an important challenge as they aim to progress further in the tournament.
Malik Mack’s Basketball Journey So Far
Mack grew up in Maryland and attended St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. As a senior, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Mack received several college offers from Rice, Ole Miss, Saint Peter’s, and Rhode Island, but he chose Harvard over all these offers.
In 2023, Mack entered his freshman year at Harvard University as the Crimson’s starting point guard. Unfortunately, ten games into the season, he contracted mononucleosis.
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Mack missed three games and returned in January 2024. He was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the season.
After the season, Mack entered the NCAA transfer portal and transferred to Georgetown in 2024.
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