George Washington University Athletics
GW Men's Hoops Continues Success Against Power Conferences
12/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Since 2013, the GW men's basketball team has performed well against teams from other power conferences, having compiled an 11-4 (.733) record against opponents from the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Pac 12 and SEC. The Colonials have opportunities upcoming to add to the victory total, with home games against Penn State (Dec. 8) and Rutgers (Dec. 12) and a trip to DePaul (Dec. 22).
In that same span, the Colonials have also made an impact against quality competition within its own Atlantic 10 Conference. GW has tallied 21 victories since 2013-14 within a league that has sent eight teams to the NCAA tournament at least once over the past three seasons.
Here is a look at each of the aforementioned 11 wins vs. other power conference teams since 2013-14.
December 2, 2015 - GW 72, Seton Hall 64
Tyler Cavanaugh and Joe McDonald combined to post 32 points as the Colonials avenged a 2014 loss to Seton Hall of the Big East. GW used advantages in free-throw shooting (81-percent to 60-percent), points-off-turnovers (18-12) and bench scoring (21-15) to pick up a home victory at the Smith Center. The win also improved GW's home record to 31-3 since the 2013-14 season.
November 27, 2015 - GW 73, Tennessee 70
The Colonials opened the semifinal round of the Barclays Center Classic with a 73-70 win over the SEC's Tennessee Volunteers. Tyler Cavanaugh narrowly missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds while Kevin Larsen added 15 points and 10 boards. GW used a 47-30 advantage in rebounding to advance to the championship game.
November 16, 2015 - GW 73, #6 Virginia 68
Four players scored in double figures, with the duo of Patricio Garino and Tyler Cavanaugh combining for 36 points, to upset then-No. 6 and reigning ACC Champion Virginia, 73-68. A sold out Smith Center and a national television audience on ESPN's Tip Off Marathon witnessed a total team effort as the Colonials posted their first home win over a ranked opponent since January 14, 1998.
March 17, 2014 - GW 60, Pittsburgh 54
GW won its first postseason game since 2006 with a 60-54 win over Pittsburgh (Big East) in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The win also was GW's first in five all-time NIT appearances.
December 23, 2014 - GW 53, Colorado 50
GW erased a five-point deficit with less than six minutes to play to edge Colorado (Pac 12) in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Joe McDonald (14 points), John Kopriva (11 points) and Yuta Watanabe (10 points) all scored in double digits as the Colonials advanced to the championship game on Christmas Day, which they ended up winning over Wichita State for the program's first in-season tournament title since 2004.
December 11, 2014 - GW 81, DePaul 68
GW built a 20-point halftime margin by closing the opening stanza on a 31-10 run en route to a 81-68 win over DePaul (Big East). The trio of Patricio Garino, Kevin Larsen and Joe McDonald combined for 55 points on 22-of-32 shooting.
November 16, 2014 - GW 70, Rutgers 53
Joe McDonald scored 15 points along with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Colonials easily dispatched the Big Ten's Rutgers, 70-53, in Piscataway, New Jersey. John Kopriva opened the night with a two-handed slam and the Colonials never trailed the rest of the night, including holding a minimum of a 10-point advantage all through the second half.
January 3, 2014 - GW 73, Georgia 55
A 73-55 win over Georgia (SEC) in early 2014 improved GW's non-conference record to 12-2, the most non-league wins since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1976. Maurice Creek (15 points) and Patricio Garino (12 points) each finished in double-digits to pace the Colonials, who would advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time program history at the conclusion of the regular season.
December 8, 2013 - GW 77, Maryland 75
Maurice Creek buried a step-back jumper with 0.6 seconds left to lift GW to a 77-75 win over Maryland (then in the ACC) in the 19th annual BB&T Classic at Verizon Center. The Colonials led for most of the game but Maryland made a furious second-half run to tie the score at 75-75 with 20 seconds left. Creek asked for the ball in the huddle with 8.1 seconds left and did not disappoint, sending the Colonials to their first win over Maryland since 2004.
December 1, 2013 - GW 60, #20 Creighton 53
Four players scored in double figures and GW's smothering defense limited All-American Doug McDermott to just seven points as the Colonials earned a 60-53 upset over then-No. 20 Creighton (Big East) in the third-place game of the Wooden Legacy at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
November 28, 2013 - GW 71, Miami 63 (OT)
Joe McDonald's clutch layup with 4.9 seconds left forced overtime and the Colonials outscored the opposition 12-4 in the extra stanza in a 71-63 win over Miami (ACC) in the quarterfinals of the Wooden Legacy at Titan Gym in Fullerton, California. The win marked GW's first over an ACC opponent since 2006.
