Elon MBB Drops a Heartbreaker at Georgetown, 77-74

WASHINGTON – The Elon University men’s basketball team had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but the Georgetown Hoyas denied the Phoenix an opportunity and held on for the 77-74 victory on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Verizon Center.

BOX SCORE

The Phoenix (6-2) had a 6-1 spurt to make it a three-point game with 16 seconds to go, but the Hoyas (5-4) denied Elon a chance to tie it and held on for the win.

Brian Dawkins led the way for Elon finishing with 17 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, and added a team-high seven rebounds. Luke Eddy and Dainan Swoope also scored in double figures with 12 and 11 points respectively. Swoope also dished out a team-high five assists.

“I’m really proud at the fact that our guys prepared well and executed an aggressive game plan, particularly in the first 15 minutes of the game,” said head coach Matt Matheny. “To Georgetown’s credit they finished the half well and started the second half very well. But then I thought our guys showed a good deal of maturity coming back when it could have been one that had gotten away from us. We’re incredibly disappointed in getting close. But what we told our players after the game, much like after a victory, is that we want to learn from the experience. We need to do the same thing from this experience.”

Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak led Georgetown as they scored 23 and 22 points respectively. Jessie Govan also contributed with 13 of his own on 6-of-7 shooting. Tre Campbell led the team with four assists.

HIGHLIGHTS
After winning the opening tip, the Phoenix started with 7-2 run capped off by Eddy’s three pointer at the 16:42 mark. Georgetown brought the game within one, 7-6, but a 7-2 Elon run extended the maroon and gold’s lead 14-8 after Sheldon Eberhardt’s floater in the lane.

The Hoyas responded again, bringing the game within three, 14-11. Elon answered with a 13-5 run for it’s largest lead of the game, 27-17, with 7:32 left in the first half. Undaunted, Georgetown mounted a quick 9-0 run, cutting the Phoenix lead to one. However, Elon elevated its lead to six, 36-30 with 1:28 on the clock. The Hoyas closed the half with a 6-0 run to tie the game 36-36.

Georgetown opened the second half with a 16-5 run for a 52-41 advantage, the Hoyas’ largest lead of the game with 15:52 on the clock. Elon answered with an 8-0 surge over the next 2:51, which included five points from Dawkins, and Georgetown’s lead was cut to 52-49.

The Phoenix continued to battle, cutting into the Hoyas’ lead 67-66 at the 5:28 mark after Eddy’s layup. Georgetown then took an eight-point lead, 76-68, with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

Elon fought to the very end, not allowing a field goal to the Hoyas in the final 2:36 of the contest. The Phoenix used a 6-1 run and had the ball on the final possession, but the host was able to hold on for the 77-74 victory.

NOTES
– Elon did not allow a Georgetown field goal in the final 2:36 of the second half.
– Brian Dawkins scored in double figures for a team-high seventh time this season with 17 against the Hoyas.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns home on Tuesday, Dec. 6, to face the UNC Asheville Bulldogs inside Alumni Gym. The game will tip off at 7 p.m.