NBA: Built to Dominate

November 24th, 1995

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

The Verizon Center was electric, filled with fans who had come to witness Georgetown take on the defending Big East champions, the Villanova Wildcats. Among the crowd was a living legend, Dikembe Mutombo, a former Georgetown star and NBA icon.

As the game unfolded, it was clear that this wasn't just another matchup. It was a battle for dominance, and Georgetown's new weapon, Alex Mo, was the center of attention.

An Opening Statement

From the opening tip, Alex wasted no time making his presence felt.

As the ball soared upward, Alex tapped it cleanly to Allen Iverson, who immediately launched one of his signature quarterback-style long passes. Alex, already sprinting down the court, caught the ball in stride and slammed it home with a thunderous dunk.

Mutombo, watching from the stands, was momentarily speechless.

"A center sprinting like that after a tip-off? That's insane," he murmured.

Georgetown's bold strategy was working. Mo and Iverson's seamless chemistry was overwhelming Villanova, whose defenders struggled to keep up.

Villanova's Response

Villanova wasn't about to back down. Their guard, Kerry Kittles, quickly adjusted and found his rhythm, draining a smooth three-pointer after a pick-and-roll.

But Georgetown's defense had its own plans.

When Kidles attempted a mid-range jumper on the next possession, Alex flew in out of nowhere, swatting the ball with a volleyball-style block that sent it sailing into the second row.

The crowd erupted.

Alex turned to Mutombo in the stands, a sly grin on his face. The message was clear: I'm coming for your throne.

Mutombo chuckled. "This kid's got swagger," he said to Coach John Thompson, who was seated nearby.

A Dunk to Remember

Moments later, Iverson orchestrated another attack. He broke through Villanova's defense and lobbed an alley-oop pass toward the rim.

Tim Thomas, Villanova's highly-touted big man, leaped to contest it.

But Alex Mo was already in the air.

With his height, wingspan, and sheer power, Alex caught the ball and slammed it through the hoop, knocking Thomas to the ground in the process.

The Verizon Center exploded.

"Tim Thomas couldn't stop him!" shouted the commentator. "No one can stop him—Alex Mo is more brutal than a monster!"

A Record-Breaking First Half

Georgetown's relentless pace continued. Iverson was unstoppable, slicing through Villanova's defense and dishing out assists with pinpoint accuracy.

And Alex? He was an unstoppable force on both ends of the floor.

By halftime, the stats told the story:

Allen Iverson: 18 points, 10 assists.Alex Mo: 30 points, 20 rebounds, 10 blocks.

Alex's halftime triple-double wasn't just impressive—it was historic.

He became the first player in NCAA history to record a 30+20+10 stat line by halftime.He joined Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo as the only Georgetown players to record triple-doubles with blocks.And he did it all on 100% shooting.

As the players left the court, Georgetown led Villanova 58–39.

Commentary and Praise

"This is a completely transformed Georgetown team," said one of the TNT commentators during halftime. "They're leading the defending champions by nearly 20 points, and it's all thanks to the unstoppable combination of Iverson and Mo."

Mutombo couldn't hide his excitement. "Coach, you weren't exaggerating," he said to Thompson. "This kid is special. I've never seen a center move like that."

Thompson nodded. "He's still raw, but if he keeps this up, his ceiling is higher than anyone we've ever had."

Mutombo laughed. "Higher than Ewing's? Let's not get carried away—yet."

Villanova's Struggles

For Villanova, the first half was a nightmare. Kerry Kittles, Alvin Williams, and Tim Thomas had no answers for Georgetown's speed, precision, and physicality.

Coach Ravic shook his head as he looked at the halftime stats. "They're not just beating us—they're rewriting the playbook," he muttered.

Despite their best efforts, Villanova couldn't slow down Iverson or contain Alex.

The Bigger Picture

As the second half loomed, the Verizon Center buzzed with excitement.

"After a performance like this," the commentator said, "it's hard to imagine anyone in the Big East stopping Georgetown."

"Forget the Big East," his partner added. "With Iverson and Alex Mo, this team has the potential to dominate the NCAA."

Back in the locker room, Alex sat calmly, sipping water as his teammates buzzed around him.

Iverson walked over, clapping Alex on the back. "Halfway there," he said with a grin.

Alex smiled. "Let's finish this."