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George Washington dominated at home by Saint Joseph’s, 84-66 George Washington dominated at home by Saint Joseph’s, 84-66
(35 minutes later)
A few minutes after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as Smith Center crackled to life for an Atlantic 10 men’s basketball showdown against Saint Joseph’s, George Washington center Kevin Larsen drove to the basket and scored the game’s opening points.A few minutes after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as Smith Center crackled to life for an Atlantic 10 men’s basketball showdown against Saint Joseph’s, George Washington center Kevin Larsen drove to the basket and scored the game’s opening points.
And with that, the Colonials claimed their first and only lead of the evening.And with that, the Colonials claimed their first and only lead of the evening.
Four days after a momentous victory at Virginia Commonwealth, GW’s season swung in the other direction with an 84-66 defeat to the only team in the nation that has not lost on the road.Four days after a momentous victory at Virginia Commonwealth, GW’s season swung in the other direction with an 84-66 defeat to the only team in the nation that has not lost on the road.
The Hawks (20-4, 9-2) did not miss much, and the Colonials (18-6, 7-4) did not defend much, ending GW’s three-game winning streak, dropping Coach Mike Lonergan’s team into fifth place and damaging the Colonials’ NCAA tournament hopes.The Hawks (20-4, 9-2) did not miss much, and the Colonials (18-6, 7-4) did not defend much, ending GW’s three-game winning streak, dropping Coach Mike Lonergan’s team into fifth place and damaging the Colonials’ NCAA tournament hopes.
[D.C. Sports Bog: GW’s Lonergan gets tossed — from his daughter’s JV game][D.C. Sports Bog: GW’s Lonergan gets tossed — from his daughter’s JV game]
“Hopefully we can bounce back,” Lonergan said about Saturday’s visit to fourth-place Saint Bonaventure (16-6, 8-3). “One game is not going to make or break our season. We were starting to get better, and tonight was a big setback for us.”“Hopefully we can bounce back,” Lonergan said about Saturday’s visit to fourth-place Saint Bonaventure (16-6, 8-3). “One game is not going to make or break our season. We were starting to get better, and tonight was a big setback for us.”
Although the Colonials were within three with 15 minutes left, they never seemed right. Especially on defense. The Hawks (9-0 on the road) responded by scoring on 10 consecutive possessions to put the game out of reach.Although the Colonials were within three with 15 minutes left, they never seemed right. Especially on defense. The Hawks (9-0 on the road) responded by scoring on 10 consecutive possessions to put the game out of reach.
“We turned up the energy a little higher, and the focus was better defensively, too,” GW senior forward Patricio Garino said of the brief uprising. “Confidence got pretty high really quick, but at the same time, it was a stab in the back when they kept scoring and we couldn’t stop them.”“We turned up the energy a little higher, and the focus was better defensively, too,” GW senior forward Patricio Garino said of the brief uprising. “Confidence got pretty high really quick, but at the same time, it was a stab in the back when they kept scoring and we couldn’t stop them.”
The Hawks made 18 of their first 25 shots in the second half and finished at 56.7 percent. They committed just five turnovers, set the tone at the start of each half with crippling surges and led by 23 against a team that had won 12 of its previous 13 home games.The Hawks made 18 of their first 25 shots in the second half and finished at 56.7 percent. They committed just five turnovers, set the tone at the start of each half with crippling surges and led by 23 against a team that had won 12 of its previous 13 home games.
“What it is about the road, I don’t know,” Hawks Coach Phil Martelli said. “That is an unbelievable achievement in today’s college basketball.”“What it is about the road, I don’t know,” Hawks Coach Phil Martelli said. “That is an unbelievable achievement in today’s college basketball.”
[GW-Saint Joe’s wrapped in NCAA implications][GW-Saint Joe’s wrapped in NCAA implications]
Baltimore’s Isaiah Miles shot 8 for 12, including 3 of 6 three-pointers, for 21 points, and the Saint Joseph’s reserves outscored their counterparts 25-7. Junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh led the Colonials with 17 points and six rebounds, but Garino, who had been on a four-game rise, shot 5 for 13 and finished with 12. Baltimore’s Isaiah Miles shot 8 for 12, including 3 of 6 three-pointers, for 21 points, and the Saint Joseph’s reserves outscored their counterparts 25-7. Junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh led the Colonials with 17 points and six rebounds, but Garino, who had been on a four-game rise, shot 5 for 13 and finished with 12 points.
GW’s problems, though, were at the defensive end.GW’s problems, though, were at the defensive end.
“It was pretty evident,” senior guard Joe McDonald said, “our defense was very bad.”“It was pretty evident,” senior guard Joe McDonald said, “our defense was very bad.”
The Colonials recognized they were in trouble right away. The Hawks were so effortless with the ball, while almost every GW possession was a laborious task against a rigid defense.The Colonials recognized they were in trouble right away. The Hawks were so effortless with the ball, while almost every GW possession was a laborious task against a rigid defense.
Example: Midway through the half, Garino’s three-point bid was blocked by James Demery. Garino recovered the ball and mustered the strength to score inside.Example: Midway through the half, Garino’s three-point bid was blocked by James Demery. Garino recovered the ball and mustered the strength to score inside.
The visitors’ execution led to a variety of baskets: open three-pointers, back-door layups and transition points. Their first three field goals came on consecutive three-pointers, and they made five of their first nine long-range attempts.The visitors’ execution led to a variety of baskets: open three-pointers, back-door layups and transition points. Their first three field goals came on consecutive three-pointers, and they made five of their first nine long-range attempts.
GW missed its first six three-pointers. Nine offensive rebounds, including four by Larsen, helped keep it close, but the Hawks led 39-32 at intermission.GW missed its first six three-pointers. Nine offensive rebounds, including four by Larsen, helped keep it close, but the Hawks led 39-32 at intermission.
[GW rises into top three in Atlantic 11][GW rises into top three in Atlantic 11]
Halftime afforded Lonergan the opportunity to recalibrate. Instead of a GW response, though, the Hawks soared. A back-door dunk sparked a 6-0 start. The Colonials had two shots blocked. Cavanaugh committed his third foul.Halftime afforded Lonergan the opportunity to recalibrate. Instead of a GW response, though, the Hawks soared. A back-door dunk sparked a 6-0 start. The Colonials had two shots blocked. Cavanaugh committed his third foul.
Yuta Watanabe fired up the Colonials and the crowd of 3,091, punching the air after hitting a three-pointer. But after it narrowed the gap to 46-43, GW regressed.Yuta Watanabe fired up the Colonials and the crowd of 3,091, punching the air after hitting a three-pointer. But after it narrowed the gap to 46-43, GW regressed.
Said Lonergan: “Down three with 15 minutes left, you think you’re going to be right back in the game, and we didn’t play enough defense to stay in the game.”Said Lonergan: “Down three with 15 minutes left, you think you’re going to be right back in the game, and we didn’t play enough defense to stay in the game.”
Back-to-back three-pointers by Miles pumped the lead to 63-46. The Colonials finally discovered an offensive rhythm, but the Hawks continued to do as they pleased. GW’s frustration boiled over with about four minutes left when Cavanaugh received a technical foul.Back-to-back three-pointers by Miles pumped the lead to 63-46. The Colonials finally discovered an offensive rhythm, but the Hawks continued to do as they pleased. GW’s frustration boiled over with about four minutes left when Cavanaugh received a technical foul.
“They dominated us,” Lonergan said. “To let a team shoot that percentage, you’re not really playing defense. It’s not just them making shots. It’s a lack of team defense. I thought we were getting that [in recent weeks], and now we’ve got to get back and refocus.”“They dominated us,” Lonergan said. “To let a team shoot that percentage, you’re not really playing defense. It’s not just them making shots. It’s a lack of team defense. I thought we were getting that [in recent weeks], and now we’ve got to get back and refocus.”