Brooks-Harris, Ohmer lead Tigers to big MSC road win

#15 Georgetown went on the road to #10 Thomas More on Thursday night, knowing the importance of the game in the Mid-South Conference standings. The game was physical and tough from the start, but the Tigers defense rose to the occasion, holding Thomas More to 38% shooting in a 72-61 win. With the win, Georgetown moves 2 games clear of the Saints in the standings with only 8 to go.

Cam Brooks-Harris had energy early for the Tigers but was limited in the 1st half due to foul trouble, and had to sit the final 12 minutes of the half with 2 fouls. Jake Ohmer picked up the slack by scoring 10 in the 1st half. The trio of Jaquay Wales, Jabrion Spikes, and Rashad Bishop combined for 9 big points off the bench in the half to keep the Tigers close. Neither team led by more than 5 in the first half as Thomas More led 32-30 at the break, thanks to 10 offensive rebounds in the half.

In the 2nd half, Brooks-Harris made his presence known immediately. 2 dunks sandwiched around 2 baskets from Jake Ohmer helped erase an early 5-point TMU lead in the 2nd half. Georgetown ultimately went on a 13-2 run to take a 44-37 with just over 15 minutes to go. TMU stepped up its defense by holding GC scoreless for over 4 minutes and going on an 8-0 run of its own for a 45-44 Saints lead with just over 11 minutes to go. Out of the under-12 media timeout, Rashad Bishop was able to find an opening inside for a Tiger lead. Thomas More would counter just 20 seconds later to reassume the advantage. It was then Cam Brooks-Harris to the rescue once more. The junior hit a 3 to give GC the lead for good at 49-47. With a 51-47 lead, TMU got a basket inside from its big man, Noah Pack, but Brooks-Harris had the answer to push the Tigers lead back to 4. Another TMU basket would be followed by another one from Brooks-Harris. This last one was from beyond the arc, giving GC a 56-51 lead with just under 8 minutes left. He would score again moments later to keep the advantage at 5, 60-55. With the score 60-56 with just over 4 minutes left, the Tigers turned the defense up another notch. Thomas More would go on a 3-minute scoreless draught, allowing GC to build the lead to 65-56 with just over 2 minutes to go, ending a Saints hope for the rally. GC would hit 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch. The one miss would be cleaned up by Brooks-Harris in the final seconds for the 11-point win.

Cam Brooks-Harris finished with 16 of his game high 21 points in the 2nd half. He finished the night shooting 9-13 overall. Jake Ohmer added 19 points, while Kyran Jones tallied another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Jones also did stellar work as the primary defender of Thomas More All-American, Reid Jolly, who finished with just 13 points on 6-21 shooting. The result marked the 2nd time this season Georgetown held Thomas More to exactly 61 points.

With outside help, Georgetown sits just 1 game out of 1st place in the Mid-South Conference with 8 games to go in the regular season. The Tigers will return home on Saturday to battle Wilberforce, who is winless in league play this season. Tipoff is set for 3:00pm at Davis-Reid Alumni Gym.