Men's Basketball: George Washington 76 Howard 72

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Men's Basketball: George Washington 76 Howard 72

GW's Arnaldo Toro (#11) led all scorers with 22 points

From our friends at GW Athletics...

Men's Basketball Runs Away from Howard for Home-Opening Win

Arnaldo Toro led the way with a career performance

In front of a raucous Smith Center that featured what could be a record student crowd when the final count is tallied, the George Washington men's basketball team opened their home season with a resounding win over local foe Howard, 76-62.

While the crowd gets the credit for spurring the Buff and Blue to victory, fueled by a pregame tailgate that shut down 22nd Street, Arnaldo Toro did the rest. In just his second game back after missing the final 26 games last season following surgery, the Puerto Rican big man put on his best performance to date with his parents in attendance. Toro had his way with Howard who had no answer for the senior star, as he racked up career-highs with an eye-popping 22-point, 18-rebound double-double. Toro sunk 9-of-12 field goals and registered a mammoth +25 +/- rating.

Toro was one of four student-athletes for the home club who hit double figures on the night, all under the direction of first-year point man Jameer Nelson Jr., who registered the first of what will surely be many double-digit assist nights in his burgeoning career. The frosh from near Philly dished 11 dimes on the night and was just a bucket shy of a double-double.

Jameer Nelson Jr. (#12) led all players with 11 assists

Senior Justin Williams netted a +24 during his 22:32 of court time, and after making seven three-pointers total in his first three seasons at GW, he broke loose for three triples Saturday afternoon. The man they call 'Juice' wasn't the only one who was flowing against the Bison, as first-year Jamison Battle let his lefty 'J' fly for four more three-pointers made. Two games into his collegiate career, Battle is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers per contest, and he drew his first collegiate start Saturday.

Senior Justin Williams (#4) scored 11 points off the bench

Sophomore Mezie Offurum was the fourth horseman in double-figures in scoring with 11 points, all of which came after halftime.

Freshman Jamison Battle (#11) scored 14 points

Despite trailing early by as many as five, the Colonials ruled the day after gaining control. A 24-11 run over the final 11 minutes of the first half put GW up 10, 37-27, at halftime, and while the Bison battled throughout, GW's lead grew to as many as 21 late in the second half. Charles Williams paced the local visitors with 21 points, but the Buff and Blue 'D' was on guard by allowing just a .379 field goal percentage to their guests.