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The last local team still playing? Try GW, which advances to NIT final The last local team still playing? Try GW, which advances to NIT final
(35 minutes later)
NEW YORK — A trip to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals was hardly the final destination the George Washington men’s basketball had envisioned for itself at the start of the season. With a roster that included three foundational seniors and a prized transfer, the Colonials aspired to a second NCAA tournament berth in three years to extend the program’s resurgence under Coach Mike Lonergan.NEW YORK — A trip to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals was hardly the final destination the George Washington men’s basketball had envisioned for itself at the start of the season. With a roster that included three foundational seniors and a prized transfer, the Colonials aspired to a second NCAA tournament berth in three years to extend the program’s resurgence under Coach Mike Lonergan.
Non-conference wins against Virginia and Seton Hall plus a rare road victory over Virginia Commonwealth fueled that momentum. But George Washington’s résumé also included a handful of baffling losses. So when the Colonials were left out of the NCAA’s field of 68 on Selection Sunday, they quickly moved past the initial disappointment and decided reaching Madison Square Garden — the annual site of NIT final four — might serve just fine as a consolation.Non-conference wins against Virginia and Seton Hall plus a rare road victory over Virginia Commonwealth fueled that momentum. But George Washington’s résumé also included a handful of baffling losses. So when the Colonials were left out of the NCAA’s field of 68 on Selection Sunday, they quickly moved past the initial disappointment and decided reaching Madison Square Garden — the annual site of NIT final four — might serve just fine as a consolation.
Not only did fourth-seeded GW make it to Manhattan, but a 65-46 victory over No. 2 seed San Diego State on Tuesday night has the Colonials on the cusp of the tournament title. That trophy will be presented Thursday to the winner between GW and No. 2 seed Valparaiso, which outlasted BYU, 72-70, in the other semifinal.Not only did fourth-seeded GW make it to Manhattan, but a 65-46 victory over No. 2 seed San Diego State on Tuesday night has the Colonials on the cusp of the tournament title. That trophy will be presented Thursday to the winner between GW and No. 2 seed Valparaiso, which outlasted BYU, 72-70, in the other semifinal.
[Colonials top Florida, 82-77, to reach NIT semifinals]
Junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh had game highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds for GW (27-10), which won its fourth straight and for the fifth time in six games. Senior forward Patricio Garino added 13 points and five rebounds, and senior point guard Joe McDonald chipped in nine points, six assists and four rebounds to help ensure the senior class would get one final game.Junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh had game highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds for GW (27-10), which won its fourth straight and for the fifth time in six games. Senior forward Patricio Garino added 13 points and five rebounds, and senior point guard Joe McDonald chipped in nine points, six assists and four rebounds to help ensure the senior class would get one final game.
“I was heartbroken we didn’t make the big dance, but I want people to hold me responsible for it, not them,” Lonergan said of his players. “We have a lack of depth. We have a lot of weaknesses, and we’re playing against some of the best coaches in the country, and we got exposed a couple of times. I’m proud of them. We’re playing for a championship.”“I was heartbroken we didn’t make the big dance, but I want people to hold me responsible for it, not them,” Lonergan said of his players. “We have a lack of depth. We have a lot of weaknesses, and we’re playing against some of the best coaches in the country, and we got exposed a couple of times. I’m proud of them. We’re playing for a championship.”
Ahead 35-20 to start the second half, GW used an 11-4 burst to expand the margin to 48-28 with 14 minutes 23 seconds left in regulation. Sophomore guard Yuta Watanabe curled around a screen for a three-pointer to commence the scoring, and Cavanaugh’s jumper pushed the advantage to 42-24.Ahead 35-20 to start the second half, GW used an 11-4 burst to expand the margin to 48-28 with 14 minutes 23 seconds left in regulation. Sophomore guard Yuta Watanabe curled around a screen for a three-pointer to commence the scoring, and Cavanaugh’s jumper pushed the advantage to 42-24.
The lead reached 20 on layups from Garino, Cavanaugh and McDonald, who twisted his ankle late in the first half. McDonald (Landon) shook off the injury to finish with one of GW’s season-low six turnovers. The Colonials owned a 15-3 margin in points off turnovers and limited San Diego State to 3 for 22 (14 percent) on three-pointers. The Aztecs (28-10) entered shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc.The lead reached 20 on layups from Garino, Cavanaugh and McDonald, who twisted his ankle late in the first half. McDonald (Landon) shook off the injury to finish with one of GW’s season-low six turnovers. The Colonials owned a 15-3 margin in points off turnovers and limited San Diego State to 3 for 22 (14 percent) on three-pointers. The Aztecs (28-10) entered shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc.
“That was key for us, handling that press they had,” Garino said. “We talked about it a lot during our scouting, and I think we did a great job. We were secure with the ball and making the right passes.”“That was key for us, handling that press they had,” Garino said. “We talked about it a lot during our scouting, and I think we did a great job. We were secure with the ball and making the right passes.”
[Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon named first team AP all-American]
GW limited the Aztecs to 29 percent shooting overall, including 24 percent in the first half. Stout defense in part allowed the Colonials to thrive despite an off night for senior center Kevin Larsen, who had seven points and four rebounds. GW’s third leading scorer had been averaging 12.3 points and had scored in double figures in nine straight games.GW limited the Aztecs to 29 percent shooting overall, including 24 percent in the first half. Stout defense in part allowed the Colonials to thrive despite an off night for senior center Kevin Larsen, who had seven points and four rebounds. GW’s third leading scorer had been averaging 12.3 points and had scored in double figures in nine straight games.
GW closed the first half with a 16-4 barrage featuring nine points from Cavanaugh, who came to Foggy Bottom after playing two seasons at Wake Forest. Cavanaugh also had a three-pointer in the surge, and after missing a layup in the final seconds, Cavanaugh collected his own miss and drew a foul on the putback with four seconds left until intermission.GW closed the first half with a 16-4 barrage featuring nine points from Cavanaugh, who came to Foggy Bottom after playing two seasons at Wake Forest. Cavanaugh also had a three-pointer in the surge, and after missing a layup in the final seconds, Cavanaugh collected his own miss and drew a foul on the putback with four seconds left until intermission.
Cavanaugh made both foul shots, and San Diego State committed its ninth turnover of the half when freshman guard Jeremy Hemsley could not control the inbounds pass as time expired.Cavanaugh made both foul shots, and San Diego State committed its ninth turnover of the half when freshman guard Jeremy Hemsley could not control the inbounds pass as time expired.
The game opened with runs from both teams until the Colonials stretched the lead to multiple possessions thanks to a 10-2 burst. Graduate guard Alex Mitola got it going with a three-pointer, and after Aztecs senior forward Winston Shepard made a jumper, Garino answered for GW with a three-pointer.The game opened with runs from both teams until the Colonials stretched the lead to multiple possessions thanks to a 10-2 burst. Graduate guard Alex Mitola got it going with a three-pointer, and after Aztecs senior forward Winston Shepard made a jumper, Garino answered for GW with a three-pointer.
Garino added an acrobatic floater, and Watanabe’s three-pointer stretched the lead to 17-8 with 10 minutes to play until the break.Garino added an acrobatic floater, and Watanabe’s three-pointer stretched the lead to 17-8 with 10 minutes to play until the break.
“This is a great team,” said Cavanaugh, who has scored in double digits in every game this season. “I’m so excited to be able to play two more days with them, one more game. We’re a balanced team, and that’s very fun. Everyone contributes, and that’s why we won tonight.”“This is a great team,” said Cavanaugh, who has scored in double digits in every game this season. “I’m so excited to be able to play two more days with them, one more game. We’re a balanced team, and that’s very fun. Everyone contributes, and that’s why we won tonight.”