Men’s Basketball Falls to Siena, 69-61

Thursday, November 8

Washington, D.C.

7:00 p.m.

George Washington University

(0-2)

Siena

(1-1)

Team	1	2	F
Siena	39	30	69
George Washington	32	29	61

Justin Mazzulla

11/8/2018 9:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Justin Mazzulla scored a career-high 18 points and Terry Nolan Jr. had 17

WASHINGTON -- A pair of sophomore guards in Justin Mazzulla and Terry Nolan Jr. combined for 35 points and 17 rebounds while connecting on 14-of-27 field goals (6-of-10 3pt. FG) between them, but the Siena Saints were equally hot to hand the Colonials their second defeat of the season, 69-61, on Thursday night at the Charles E. Smith Center.

GW actually connected at a greater clip from behind the arc than the hot-shooting Saints -- .444 to .382 -- who came into the game fresh off nailing 12 threes in their opener against Providence, but Siena's volume got it done. As a team the visitors drained 13 triples, including a 4-of-9 effort from Jalen Pickett en route to his game-high 19 points. Pickett also dished a game-high six assists, while teammate Kevin Degnan was even more proficient with his scorching 5-of-6 marksmanship from deep to contribute 15 to the cause.

The Colonials rallied from down by as many as 11 to make the closing minutes a thrill for the second consecutive game, but Siena's prowess on the offensive glass and ability to find open shooters for second-chance points sealed GW's fate. Sixteen Saints' offensive caroms collected led to 18 second-chance points against GW. There were four ties and five lead changes in the tightly-contested affair that saw GW lead by six at its largest.

Making his Buff and Blue debut, Illinois transfer DJ Williams contributed a pair of steals and blocks on the defensive end, while fellow junior Arnaldo Toro narrowly missed his second double-double in as many games with nine points and a game-high tying nine rebounds.

The meeting marked just the fifth all-time match-up between the schools, with Siena now holding the all-time series edge at 3-2. Two years ago in D.C. the Colonials edged out a 77-75 win.

The road beckons next for GW as the Colonials make the drive to Charlottesville, Virginia for a Sunday tip against nationally ranked No. 5 Virginia. The last time GW and the Cavaliers faced off, the home-standing Colonials knocked-off then No. 6 Virginia in a raucous Smith Center, 73-68, on November 16, 2015.