Tigers close out Jim Reid Classic with tight win over WV Tech

Georgetown took on an old MSC rival on Friday night in the Central Bank Jim Reid Classic. The Tigers got more than a fight from West Virginia Tech, but in the end, they made just enough plays for a 68-62 win to improve to 6-0 on the year.

The Tigers got off to a nice start with an opening 3 from Jabrion Spikes and mid-range jumper from Darien Lewis. Tae Dozier and Dre Boyd each scored moments later as the Golden Bears called a timeout with 16:15 remaining in the half and Georgetown leading 9-2. The Bears' Braden Chapman then began to take over and get his team back into it. With Georgetown keeping pace, Chapman scored the 1st 15 and 23 of the Bears first 24 points. With 5 minutes to go in the half, the score stood: Georgetown 28, Braden Chapman 23. Darien Lewis then countered with a mid-range jumper and a 3 to push the lead to 33-26. The Tigers took a 35-28 lead to the break.

West Virginia Tech scored the first 4 of the second half, but Tae Dozier followed with a slam to push the lead to 5 at 37-32. Free throws brought the Bears level with the Tigers at 38 with 13:33 to go. Jabrion Spikes then scored 6 straight for the Tigers to keep the lead, but the Bears kept answering. Another Tae Dozier slam gave Georgetown a 51-47 lead with 9:11 to play but the Bears again countered. This time it was 5 straight to put WV Tech ahead, 52-51. Dozier and Spikes came right back with 3 straight buckets for a 57-52 Georgetown lead and a West Virginia Tech timeout with 5:56 to play. With under 4 minutes to go, Georgetown's lead stood at 59-53. The Bears scored 5 of the next 7 to cut the margin to 3. With 2:19 to go, Jabrion Spikes took a pass with just 3 seconds on the shot clock and was forced to fire a 3-pointer from 30 feet away. The ball rattled around the rim and fell through the net to give the Tigers a 64-58 lead. Tech scored 4 straight to get within 64-62 with less than 40 seconds to go.

With just 14 seconds left and the shot clock nearly at its end, the Bears fouled Dre Boyd, who calmly stepped to the line and nailed 2 free throws for a 66-62 lead. On the Bears possession, Andres Burney swatted away a layup attempt inside. Jabrion Spikes took the outlet pass and fired ahead to Boyd, who slammed the game away with a last-second dunk to seal the win.

Boyd finished the night with 7 points but a game-high 13 rebounds. Jabrion Spikes scored 15 of his 22 in the 2nd half, while Tae Dozier scored 10 of his 18 in the final 20 minutes. After Braden Chapman scored 23 of Tech's 1st 24 points, he did not make another shot and scored just 1 point after halftime. Georgetown's critical stat was points off turnovers. The Tigers finished with a 14-2 edge in points off turnovers.

The Tigers next take on another old MSC rival as Shawnee State comes to Davis-Reid Alumni Gym on Tuesday night. Tip time is set for 7:00pm.