From our friends at GW Athletics...
Caputo Era Starts with an 85-58 Win Against Virginia State
Bishop goes for 21, ties career-best with nine helpers
That's how the official ledger will begin in the history books when Chris Caputo's all-time record as a Head Coach is listed. GW students emptied the residence halls and poured into the Charles E. Smith Center in Foggy Bottom on Monday night as the 2022-23 college hoops season began in earnest. It was the dawn of the Caputo era at GW and the massive student turnout did not leave disappointed. In a wire-to-wire win against visiting Virginia State, Caputo guided his charges and new-look Buff and Blue club to a runaway home win.
Despite the plethora of new faces on the GW sidelines, it was a longtime familiar face who continued his climb up the all-time GW scoring list to open the new campaign. James Bishop IV - sporting the IV in his home whites for the first time - broke the seal with a lefty layup on an assist from Ricky Lindo, Jr., and sent the home club off and running.
The Buff and Blue led by as many as 32, paced by Bishop's game-high 21 points, as the prolific guard looks to once again challenge for the Atlantic 10 scoring title. The do-it-all guard also found success as a set-up man, dishing a career-high nine assists in his All-Conference type effort.
Brendan Adams drew the start alongside Bishop in the backcourt and tossed in 15 points to his credit. A Baltimore-made guard like Bishop, Adams enjoyed a sterling night from deep by canning 4-of-7 triples, while ripping down eight boards. The Baltimore Boys accounted for 36 of GW's 85 points, while eight of their teammates also found the scoring column.
Lindo was all over the floor in the victory, with a stat-sheet-stuffing 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks to put his name in early contention for Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
Noel Brown started at center and made the most of his starting nod with nine points in a perfect 4-of-4 night from the floor, to go along with six rebounds.
In their official GW debuts,
Max Edwards (via Kansas State) finished with 12 points,
E.J. Clark (from Alabama State) checked in with six, and
Keegan Harvey, the Aussie from College of Charleston via Montverde Academy registered four.
Up next for GW is a Veterans Day clash with crosstown foe
Howard on Friday. Special holiday tip time comes at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
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T-shirts anyone? |