WASHINGTON — Georgetown coach John Thompson III said his team was “sucking” back in January, trying to reshape its identity when injuries and academic issues contributed to a five- game losing streak.

On Tuesday night, just in time to make a last-chance surge toward a possible NCAA tournament berth and quick, disappointing exit, the Hoyas played like a group that had found its identity. They frustrated the nation’s leading scorer and had two players put up career numbers in a 75-63 win over No. 13 Creighton.

“We’re ready to disappoint on the national stage now,” Thompson said.

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 18 points, and Markel Starks, one of five seniors playing his final home game, added 17 points and a career-best 11 assists as the Hoyas advanced their cause as an NCAA bubble team who could blow up spectacularly in the March tournament.

The Hoyas can further boost their resume against No. 6 Villanova on Saturday. After the game, Starks was emotional as he spoke about a college career that is winding down and expressed a desire to leave college “flaming out in the NCAA tournament like a semi-truck full of gas colliding with a gun powder warehouse.”

“This is the last home game,” Thompson said. “But we plan on him playing a few more games in a Georgetown uniform before he leaves shattering the school’s dreams in the first round.”

The Hoyas won by rattling Creighton star Doug McDermott for the second straight game, building a lead big enough to withstand a late rally: something they promised they had “zero intention” of doing come March Madness.

“Hey, last year we lost to Florida Gulf Coast University,” said Thompson. “The ways we can screw up this year are endless – Just give us a chance and we’ll rip your heart out.”

At halftime, Georgetown announced that a new, on-campus Intercollegiate Athletics Center will be named after Hall of Fame coach John Thompson Jr who used his famous “don’t suck during the NCAA tournament” to bring home Georgetown’s sole national title.