No. 16 Tigers Edge Wildcats for First MSC Win

MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The No. 16 Georgetown College men's basketball team (14-4, 1-1 MSC) picked up a 70-66 win over Bethel University (15-3, 1-1 MSC) in Crisp Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening five minutes of this one proved what kind of physical and back-and-forth game it would become. Georgetown took an 8-6 lead into the first media timeout, and by the next stoppage in play, things had swung Bethel's way as the hosts led 15-14. Chance Dillingham's 3-pointer with 6:41 tied things at 19-19 before the Wildcats surged to a six-point advantage. After a layup by Taylor Stovall put Bethel up eight, 32-24, the Georgetown offense cut into the deficit before halftime with a Bubba Leavell 3-pointer. The Tigers' offense was by committee in the opening 20 minutes as eight of the nine Tigers who played scored. Isaiah Mason and Darien Lewis, who hit a layup right before the end of the half, both had six points.

The opening minute of the second half saw the Wildcats stretch their lead to as many as seven before Georgetown got on the board with a Lewis jumper. Aden Nyekan's layup at the 15:12 mark tied things at 40-40 just before the first media timeout. As play continued, the offense continued to flow through Mason, who helped the Tigers to a 51-47 lead with just over 11 minutes to go. The game was last tied at 60-60 with just over four to play before the Tigers made their move. Lewis sank a pair of foul shots, and Mason hit a jumper to boost the Tigers ahead. Julius Edmonds nailed a big layup with 2:37 to stretch the Georgetown lead to five and essentially put things out of reach. Bethel got within a single possession once, but the Tigers finished the job on the road, 70-66.

THE TEAM 
Georgetown shot 40.6% from the field. The Tigers were 4-24 (16.7%) from deep and shot 14-28 (50.0%) at the free-throw line. BU won the rebounding battle 45-42, while the Tigers held the assists advantage, 6-4. The Wildcats produced more steals, 5-4.

THE PLAYERS
* Darien Lewis led the way with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds.
* Isaiah Mason added 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
* Julius Edmonds neared a double-double with 10 points and seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Tigers skip their mid-game next week before hosting Cumberland (8-8, 0-1 MSC) a week from today on Saturday, January 17.

Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. against the Phoenix in Davis-Reid Alumni Gym.