Saturday, January 4, 2014

Men's Basketball: GW 73 Georgia 55

Kevin Larsen (#21) played great D in game-high 35 minutes 

From our friends at GW Athletics Communications...

GW Men's Hoops Rolls Georgia, 73-55, to Finish Non-Conference Play 12-2

Colonials Post Most Non-Conference Wins Since Joining Atlantic 10

GW men's basketball maintained its perfect record at the Charles E. Smith Center, winning its seventh home game of the season, 73-55, over Georgia in its non-conference finale on Friday night.

GW closes non-conference play at 12-2 for its most non-league victories since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1976. The 12 wins betters the previous mark of 11 non-conference wins in 1992-93 and 1997-98. GW has also won eight consecutive home games dating back to an overtime win over Dayton in the 2012-13 regular-season finale.

The Colonials were led by a trio of double-digit scorers in sophomore Kethan Savage (18), graduate student Maurice Creek (15) and sophomore Patricio Garino, who finished with 12 points and six rebounds with his mother in attendance from his native Argentina.

GW held Georgia's Charles Mann (#4) to 11 points

Sophomore Kevin Larsen chipped in nine points, senior Isaiah Armwood added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, and sophomore Joe McDonald netted eight points.

Savage converted an alley-oop layin from Creek off the opening tip for an early lead, but trailed 7-6 approaching the first media timeout. The Colonials responded with six straight baskets in the paint and a 12-3 run to take an 18-10 advantage and never trailed again. Savage scored 10 of his 18 in the first half to help GW to a 28-23 halftime lead.

Georgia head coach Mark Fox had no answer for GW

As it has done for much of the season, GW started fast to begin the second half, using an 8-2 run for its first double-digit lead at 36-25 just 2:17 into the period. The Bulldogs closed within single-digits just two more times, with the Colonials stretching the margin to as much as 21 in the final five minutes.

The Colonials shot 14-of-26 overall in the second half to finish at 44 percent (25-57) on the night. GW was solid at the line converting 20-of-28 free throws, compared to 8-of-15 for Georgia.

GW held Georgia (6-6) to its lowest offensive output of non-conference play for the second straight season, avenging last January's 52-41 defeat against the Bulldogs in Athens, Ga.

The Bulldogs were led by reserve Cameron Forte's 14 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting and game-high eight rebounds. Leading scorer Charles Mann finished with 11 points.

GW now turns its focus to A-10 play starting with a trip to La Salle next Thursday, Jan. 9. The 8 p.m. contest on NBC Sports Network is the first of eight nationally broadcasts and 14 televised games during league play. GW Alumni will host a pre-game reception in the La Salle Union Music Room beginning at 6 p.m.

Click here for last night's box score.