Georgetown fans may be a bit nervous right now, as sophomore forward Otto Porter left the game in the first half after getting hit in the face by an errant elbow.
Porter would return for a short stint in the first half, only to leave the game and not return to the bench for the second half.
Porter, expected to lead the way for the Hoyas this season, played just six minutes in the first half and finished with zero points, one rebound and one assist in Georgetown’s 61-55 win over Duquesne.
In his postgame press conference, head coach John Thompson III stated that Porter was held out for precautionary reasons.
JTIII said Otto Porter was hit in the head and kept out for precautionary reasons. No sense of whether he suffered a concussion. #Hoyas
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 12, 2012
Freshman guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera led the way offensively with 19 points off the bench, and forwards Mickael Hopkins (eight points, 14 rebounds) and Greg Whittington (15 points) were productive as well.
But the Hoyas, playing just two days after their game against Florida was called at halftime, struggled when it came to taking care of the basketball as they finished with 17 turnovers.
And if Porter has to miss any game action as a result of the injury things get tougher for a team expected to go through some growing pains as a result of their overall youth.
Georgetown has no seniors and just two juniors, starter Nate Lubick (seven points, eight rebounds) and reserve Moses Ayegba, on their roster.
Ayegba, who sat out last season after tearing his ACL during a summer league game, grabbed two rebounds and dished out an assist during his three minutes on the floor.
Porter averaged 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and shot 52.5% from the field last season, and with Jason Clark and Henry Sims gone is expected to lead the way for John Thompson III’s young squad.
Georgetown hosts Liberty on Wednesday night at the Verizon Center.
Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.