Men’s Basketball Storms Back to Win at La Salle

Wednesday, January 16

Philadelphia, PA

8:00 PM

George Washington University

6-11, 2-2 A-10

La Salle

3-13, 1-3 A-10

George Washington

La Salle

DJ Williams had a team-high 14 points

1/16/2019 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Interviews

The Colonials shot 68 percent in the second half for a comeback, 59-56 win

PHILADELPHIA -- After finding considerable success on its last trip to Philadelphia, when the GW men's basketball team opened A-10 play with a huge road win across the city at Saint Joseph's, the Colonials sought another Philly Special on Wednesday night at La Salle. A rough-and-tumble first half that looked more like NFC East football than A-10 basketball, relented with the home team owning a 23-14 edge. GW's defense kept them in it as neither team yielded much, making a second half comeback - a la their 10-point return at the Hawks on Jan. 6th - well within reason. After GW trailed 11-2 early and then by as many as 12, the chase was on.

GW showed fight coming out of the locker room at intermission and embarked on an 11-6 run to start the second half. The teams went into the under 16:00 timeout with the Explorers clinging to a 29-25 lead, and found themselves with an identical margin at the under-12:00 with La Salle heading down the stretch up 40-36. GW's 22 points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half eclipsed its 14-point first half total easily as the visitors started to find their range. The Colonials connected on 10 of their first 13 field goals (.760) in the second after ending the first stanza 4-of-25 (.160).

With just over four minutes left on the clock, a Terry Nolan Jr. hoop brought the game within one for the third time in the half. When Maceo Jack bombed in a three-pointer at the 2:05 mark, the Colonials found themselves with their first lead of the game, 55-53. La Salle briefly regained the lead, but courtesy of a strong Armel Potter finish, it was GW in the driver's seat in the waning seconds. GW controlled the ball up one with :33 seconds on the clock, and La Salle had little choice but to foul. Nolan calmly canned two freebies in a one-and-one setting to boost the GW edge to three, and an ensuing La Salle miscue sealed the deal for the DC team.

When G-Dub stared down the finishing 8:00-minute stretch within a possession at 46-43, signs of a Philly sweep were in the air; not only after beating Saint Joseph's, but also after GW's women's basketball team defeated the Explorers in the first part of the doubleheader between the schools.

GW finished a blistering 19-of-28 (.679) from the floor in the second half and placed four in double figures. DJ Williams led the way with 14, while the three-headed sophomore guard tandem of Nolan, Justin Mazzulla and Jack finished with 12, 11 and 10, respectively. Nolan added 10 rebounds for his second career double-double, with the first coming in GW's win at Saint Joseph's 10 days ago.

The Buff and Blue will now aim to defend their court during Homecoming Weekend on Sunday. The Duquesne Dukes come to town for a 4 p.m. tip broadcast nationally on NBCSN. The game will mark the first of two against the Yinzers this season, with GW returning the game in Pittsburgh next month on Feb. 16th.