GW basketball eases into top 25 with win over St. Peter’s
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Version 0 of 1. George Washington’s first men’s basketball game in almost 10 years as a ranked team transpired much like many of its outings beyond the national spotlight this season: with a punishing performance and clear-cut outcome at Smith Center. Capping a perfect four-game homestand, the No. 21 Colonials roared to a 23-point lead in the first half and defeated Saint Peter’s, 87-74 , on Saturday for their 10th triumph in 11 games. This one was not as comprehensive as last weekend’s 34-point demolition of Rutgers — GW seemed to lose interest in the second half and allowed the lead to slip to 11. But the Colonials were forceful enough before intermission to satisfy the expectations of a top 25 team facing an overmatched opponent. [Saturday’s top 25 scoreboard] “It’s pretty awesome — I can’t lie,” senior center Kevin Larsen said of GW’s return to the national rankings for the first time since the end of the 2005-06 campaign. “It’s just an enjoyable time, but we still have got a lot of work to do.” The Colonials (8-0 at home) have equaled the second-best start in program history, trailing only the 1953-54 squad. They will conclude the nonconference schedule with visits to DePaul on Tuesday and Central Florida on Dec. 29 before embarking on the arduous Atlantic 10 tour. “We still have the same expectation,” senior forward Patricio Garino said of life as a ranked team. “I don’t think it was our goal at the beginning of the season [just] to be ranked. This is something that keeps us motivated, for sure. Our goals are the same. Our mentality is completely the same as before.” [Hoyas have a (mid-) major problem, falling to UNC Asheville] Saturday’s quick start was almost identical to the last game: a 9-0 lead and lopsided advantage well before halftime. Junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh, the Wake Forest transfer who leads the team in scoring, posted 13 of his 18 points in the first half. He shot 6 of 8 overall and made all three three-pointers, improving to 11 of 17 from long distance over a five-game stretch. Garino added 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Paul Jorgensen came off the bench for 12. But the most notable contribution came from Larsen, who broke out of a three-week rut with 11 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals . “We knew we could score inside against them,” Coach Mike Lonergan said of Larsen’s matchup against the smaller Peacocks. “It affects Kevin a little bit when he is not scoring. [When he is scoring,] it helps the rest of his game.” In the previous four games, Larsen had averaged four points and six rebounds. “I’ve been working extra hard, being more motivated, because I have been struggling,” he said. “My teammates have been helpful trying to get me the ball, trying to get me out of this slump. And today I was kind of [getting] out of it.” [No. 8 Virginia shoots down No. 12 Villanova] The Colonials made seven of their first nine field goal attempts, mixing back-door layups with three-pointers and transition baskets. They shot 58.6 percent and made 5 of 8 three-pointers in the first half. It was a balanced assault, led by Cavanaugh, who made two early three-pointers, and Garino, who shot 3 of 5 and regained his rhythm after three inconspicuous performances. Larsen started and finished a 12-0 surge for a 33-13 lead. In between, reserve guard Matt Hart turned a steal into a layup, and Cavanaugh and Hart buried three-pointers. Ahead by 17 at the half, the Colonials began the second period with two notable sequences: Yuta Watanabe converted a four-point play for the second straight game and Garino made a fadeaway shot off an inbounds pass as the shot clock expired. The teams traded baskets for much of the second half, preventing embarrassment for the Peacocks (3-6) and securing an inevitable result for the Colonials. The second half, though, was not to Lonergan’s liking. “We didn’t have any energy,” he said. “Our defense was awful.” Peacocks guards Trevis Wyche and Antwon Portley combined for 27 points in the second half and 47 overall. Wyche came off the bench to score 26 on 10-of-14 shooting (4 of 5 three-pointers). Saint Peter’s shot 57 percent and scored 45 points after the break. The second half was a reminder that a national ranking does not come equipped with an invincibility shield. “We can’t relax because we are ranked,” Garino said. “We have to play extra hard now.” |