Tigers open MSC play with road win

Georgetown College men's basketball's bench kept the team alive in the first half of the Mid-South Conference opener Thursday in Williamsburg, Ky. The Tigers (5-0, 1-0) were cold to start, but Jermaine Patterson and Drew LaMont came in and sparked the offense – combining for 16 of GC's 31.

Guard Derrin Boyd took over the second half as the visitors defeated University of the Cumberlands, 72-69. Patterson helped to salt the game away with a steal and layup for the final points of the night and a three-point edge with just less than 30 seconds left.

The Patriots made it a one-point game when Steven Fitzgerald hit a three with 2:13 left, which capped a 9-0 run by the home team to pull back in the game. In the final six minutes, GC was held to just four points – a tip in by Kyran Jones and the bucket by Patterson. But, it was good enough to hold off Cumberlands.

The game was close early, but another cold stretch left the Tigers down three at the break. GC scored only three points in the final five-plus minutes of the first half as well. UC closed on a 7-3 run to lead at the break.

Boyd scored 21 of his game-high 23 in the second half, while Jones finished with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Jayrese Williams chipped in 13 points and Patterson finish with 12.

Georgetown stays on the road for a 4 pm game Saturday at University of Pikeville. The Bears (4-0, 1-0) opened league play with a 92-87 win over Campbellsville University (5-2, 0-1).