Tigers cruise by Olivet Nazarene into 2nd Round

#6 Georgetown took to the floor on Friday night like a team out to prove itself in the 1st round of the 2024 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, presented by Ballogy. The Tigers hit their first 5 shots from the floor and never looked back in a 97-79 rout of #11 Olivet Nazarene.

Cam Brooks-Harris got the ball rolling with a left-wing 3 just nine seconds after winning the opening tip. Tommy Thomas followed with a 3-point play on the next series and Georgetown led 6-0, just 37 seconds into the game. After an Olivet Nazarene 3, Jabrion Spikes countered with a 3 of his own, then followed with a steal and lay-in. After a 2nd three from ONU, Tommy Thomas connected from deep and Georgetown led 14-6 just 2:11 into the half. Thomas hit another 3 minutes later to give Georgetown a 21-14 lead as Olivet Nazarene tried to keep up with Georgetown's frenetic pace. GC forced a steal and scored on the ensuing possession for a 9-point lead, setting a tone that would carry throughout the game. Georgetown outscored Olivet Nazarene, 28-11, in points off turnovers.

Olivet Nazarene got within 5 at 27-22 with 11:32 to go, but Georgetown countered with a 15-3 run over the next 4:40 to bust the game open to a 15-point lead at 42-27. ONU closed back within 11 at 44-33 with just over 4 minutes left, but GC countered with a bucket inside from Kyran Jones and the first of 4 threes from Seth Johnson and the lead swelled to 16. Georgetown took a 51-37 lead to the halftime break on the strength of 59% shooting and 8-14 from 3-point range.

The 2nd half got off to a slow start for Georgetown as the Tigers scored just 1 point in the first 2:25. The defense kept ONU in check, holding those Tigers to just 2 in that stretch. Tommy Thomas and Jabrion Spikes got shots to go from the perimeter to get the offense back on track. Kyran Jones continued to do work inside, scoring on a bucket from Thomas, to give Georgetown a 61-44 lead at the under-15 media timeout.

Rashad Bishop hit his 1st shot of the 2nd half with 13:27 to go, igniting a 12-point half for the Tiger big man. Seth Johnson hit a 3 with 11:27 to go to push the lead to 67-48, then hit 2 free throws on the next trip down the floor. The knockout punches came with just under 9 minutes to go. Aden Nyekan forced an ONU turnover, raced ahead and threw a perfect lob to Rashad Bishop for a slam and a lead of 21. Seth Johnson followed on the next possession with a dunk of his own. After another ONU turnover, Bishop had himself another highlight slam, followed by another Seth Johnson 3 and Georgetown took its largest lead at 85-57 with 7:09 left.

The teams traded baskets and free throws the rest of the way, leading to Georgetown's advancement into the 2nd Round. Seth Johnson scored a season-high 18 points on 4-5 3-point shooting. Jabrion Spikes also tallied 18 to go with 3 steals. Rashad Bishop finished with 15 on 6-7 shooting. Bishop and Johnson were part of a Georgetown bench that poured in 49 points, a 37-point edge in that category. Tommy Thomas scored 12 of his 14 in the 1st half.

#6 Georgetown will take on #3 Morningside in the 2nd Round from Sioux City, IA. Tip time on Saturday is set for 2:30pm ET.