Franklin's 37 not enough against hot-shooting Phoenix

Georgetown entered Monday's game knowing it would not have Dre Boyd in the lineup. The Tigers did not bank on having Tae Dozier for only 5 minutes. They also could not have forseen Cumberland shooting as well as it did all night long. Add it all up and it led to Georgetown taking its second loss of the season, 92-89.

Cumberland scored the 1st 4 points of the night. Jaquias Franklin had to enter the game just 1 minute and 25 seconds in to replace Tae Dozier. Franklin hit a three to kickstart his monster night soon after. After a stop, Jabrion Spikes hit a jumper for a 5-4 Georgetown lead. It was the only lead Georgetown had the entire night. Just 17 seconds later, Cumberland hit a three of its own to retake the edge. As the half went on, Cumberland gradually built its lead to 10 at 23-13 with 12:37 to play. A 3-point play from Andres Burney cut the deficit to 7. Later in the half, Georgetown trailed, 42-31, but Jaquias Franklin knocked down another 3 to get the Tigers within single digits. As they did much of the night, the Phoenix answered immediately with a 3 of their own. Franklin hit free throws on the next possession and after a rare CU miss, Darien Lewis hit 2 more from the line as Georgetown trailed, 45-38, with 3:37 to go. Cumberland answered with 8 of the last 10 to take a 53-40 lead to halftime. Despite a combined 27 from Franklin and Burney, Georgetown still trailed thanks to Cumberland shooting 58% with only 3 turnovers.

Jabrion Spikes started the 2nd half with a basket, but Cumberland scored the next 6 to build its biggest lead at 59-42. Hunter McCutcheon stopped the run with a 3. He hit another with 13:19 to cut the deficit to 13 at 63-50. A third 3 from McCutcheon brought Georgetown within 10 at 65-55 with 11:36 to go and set Georgetown up for a possible comeback. He gave way to Jaquias Franklin who scored on consecutive trips to cut the margin to 9 with 10:36 to play. Franklin scored 8 straight to keep Georgetown within striking distance. Free throws from Scotty Browning and Franklin soon followed and with 7:42 left, Georgetown had cut a 17-point deficit down to 6 at 73-67. Cumberland woke back up with a 7-2 run to push the lead back to 11 with 6 minutes remaining.

Trailing 84-74 with 4 minutes to go, Franklin nailed another 3. After an exchange of inside baskets, Georgetown forced a turnover, leading to a Franklin layup and free throw with 2:05 to go, to make the game an 86-82 lead for Cumberland. The Tigers got a needed stop and then 2 free throws from Darien Lewis to get within 2 with 1:44 to go. Cumberland hit 2 foul shots on its end, but Franklin came back with another long 3 to get the Tigers within 1 with a minute to go. Georgetown then got a stop and had a chance for the lead with less than 30 seconds to go, but a turnover wiped it away. Cumberland hit 2 free throws for a 90-87 lead. With less than 10 seconds left, Gavin Stevens had a clean look at the tie from the right wing, but his 3 came up short. Andres Burney grabbed the board and put it in with 4 seconds left. Cumberland hit more free throws for the 3-point lead again. Darien Lewis missed another tying shot out of bounds. Most thought the game was over, but the Tigers got one more crack. The Phoenix inbounder ran the baseline, which was not allowed on a shot out of bounds. Georgetown had one last heave, but a three from Andres Burney missed left, and the Tigers came up short.

Jaquias Franklin finished his brilliant night with 37 points on 12-21 shooting, including 4-8 from 3-point range in 38 minutes. Andres Burney was a force on both ends with 19 points and 14 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. Jabrion Spikes was the only other Tigers in double-figures with 13.

In the end, Georgetown's defense just couldn't get enough stops. Cumberland shot 54% for the game and scored 56 points in the paint, while only committing 8 turnovers.

The Tigers now get set for Senior Day on Saturday as Campbellsville comes to Davis-Reid Alumni Gym. Tip time is set for 3:00pm.