Dominant 1st half proves just enough in 10th straight win

Georgetown Men's Basketball has gotten off to slow starts on several occasions in 2024 but have always gotten going to stay unbeaten. Against the Bethel Pilots, the start was not the issue as Georgetown built a 25-point 1st half lead, but struggled in the 2nd half. Ultimately, the lead was just enough in Georgetown's 74-68 win to improve to 10-0 on the year.

The 1st half was low scoring and tight through the 1st 10 minutes with Georgetown holding a 22-17 lead at the midway following a Darien Lewis 3-point play. The play started a run of 16 straight points for the Tigers as Bethel went nearly 5 game minutes without a point. In the run, the Tigers got threes from Jaquias Franklin and Tae Dozier to push the lead out. After a Bethel bucket to stop the run, Gavin Stevens drilled a 3 then scored inside to give the Tigers a 40-19 lead with just under 5 minutes left in the half. Scotty Browning then took his turn in the spotlight. Browning blocked a foul line jumper then raced down the other end and cleaned up a missed 3 with a putback lay-in for a 42-19 edge. Gavin Stevens came back with an offensive rebound and putback for a 25-point lead and a Bethel timeout with 3:55 to go in the half. A last second bucket from Jabrion Spikes gave Georgetown a 46-25 lead at intermission. While the Tigers offense was sharp, the defense told the story. Georgetown held Bethel to 25% shooting (9-36) in the half and forced 6 turnovers.

Andres Burney started the 2nd half with a hook shot to push the lead to 23 to start. With a 52-30 lead with 17 minutes to go, Georgetown saw Bethel begin to chip away. A 9-0 run in less than 90 seconds cut the lead to 13. Darien Lewis hit a midrange jumper with 15:08 left to stop the run. Jaquias Franklin followed suit and the Tigers led 56-39 with 13:21 to go. Bethel came charging again. A 14-3 run in the following 3 minutes, 45 seconds cut the Georgetown lead down to 6 at 59-53 with 8:36 to play. The Pilots kept coming. Sandwiched around a Tae Dozier jumper was a Pilot lay-up and 3 to get the Georgetown lead down to 4 at 62-58 with 6:10 to go. Nearly 2 minutes elapsed before another basket was scored. It was Bethel once more and the Tiger lead had shrunk to a single basket.

Jabrion Spikes scored inside off a Tae Dozier steal with 3:25 to go, but Bethel soon knocked down 2 free throws to make it a 64-62 Georgetown lead. On Georgetown's ensuing possession, Jaquias Franklin stepped into a left-wing 3 and knocked it down for some much needed breathing room. Tae Dozier then came up with a massive block on the defensive end then fed Franklin for another left-wing 3 to give Georgetown a 70-62 lead with 2 minutes to go. Bethel called a timeout to draw up a play inside, but Dre Boyd was there for the last of Georgetown's 8 blocks on the night. Boyd was rewarded on the other end with a bucket inside and a 10-point lead with a minute to go that proved to be the knockout blow for the Pilots. Bethel outscored Georgetown 43-28 in the 2nd half to make it close on the strength of 11 offensive rebounds. The Pilots outrebounded the Tigers, 23-6, in the half, but it was not enough.

Jaquias Franklin knocked down 2 clutch threes late and led Georgetown with 20 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Jabrion Spikes and Darien Lewis each scored 11. Andres Burney got the start inside and finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Dre Boyd turned in another stellar performance with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal and a block. Tae Dozier blocked 4 shots on the night, the third time this season he's accomplished that feat. Gavin Stevens proved a huge boost in the big 1st half and finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds.

Georgetown will look for its 11th straight win this Saturday at The Show in Kingsport, TN. The Tigers will take on Tennessee Wesleyan at 7:00pm.