Tigers survive furious comeback to eliminate Bears

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — In front of a record-setting crowd of 2,449, the Tigers of Georgetown College advanced to tomorrow afternoon`s championship game of the 2008 Community Trust Bank Mid-South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, defeating the Pikeville College Bears 105-99 at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center.

Georgetown (31-0) led by as many as 34 before taking a comfortable 55-34 lead at the half. The Bears were able to cut the lead to 13 three times in the second half before an Ewan Linton basket cut the Tiger lead to 11 (84-73) with 6:50 left to play.

Pikeville could get no closer until a basket by Jeff Ferguson pulled the Bears to within nine, 93-84, with 2:10 on the clock. The Tigers would have several chances to cut the Bears’ rally short, but hit just 6 of 12 from the charity stripe over the next two minutes to give the Bears life. And Pikeville took advantage of that opportunity, and with just 26 ticks left on the clock found themselves down 100-97.

But in the end the Tigers were able to hold on, closing the game by outscoring Pikeville 5-2 to advance to the championship game. The Tigers will face the University of the Cumberlands tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. for the title.

Justin Taylor led five Georgetown scorers in double digits with a game-high 26 points. Jerry Turner added 25, while MSC Player of the Year Gus Chase chipped in 17. Demetrius Guoins also added a double-double of 15 points and 13 boards for the Tigers, who won the battle of the boards 42-35.

Ferguson and Anthony Ighodaro led Pikeville with 18 apiece. Ighodaro, a senior from Mississauga, Ont., had a double-double in his final game by pulling down a dozen rebounds.

Freshman Justin Hicks finished with 16, while juniors Haakim Johnson (14), William Harris (12) and Ewan Linton (12) also were in double figures.

Pikeville finished its second season under Kelly Wells at 22-9.