Men’s Basketball Downed by Dayton, 72-66

Wednesday, January 9

Washington, D.C.

7:00 p.m.

George Washington University

(5-10, 1-1 A-10)

Dayton

(10-5, 2-0 A-10)

Dayton

George Washington

Maceo Jack scored 13 points

1/9/2019 9:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Postgame Interview Photo Gallery Pops Mensah-Bonsu Interview

DJ Williams scored a career-high 20 points

WASHINGTON -- GW men's basketball welcomed the Dayton Flyers to Smith Center on Wednesday night to what has historically been a house of horrors for the visitors. Many memorable Buff and Blue victories have taken place in this rivalry over the years in Foggy Bottom, and for the first 10 minutes in the latest installment, the game had the makings of another gem for GW.

With alumnus Pops Mensah-Bonsu ('06) featured and feted as a special guest, Pops first brought the crowd to their feet after a video tribute in recognition of his legacy at GW, and then the current squad ran with the baton early. When the third of Justin Mazzulla's three 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes found its mark with 10:21 to play in the first, GW found itself with a 33-11 edge. Dayton would save its run for the second half in an eventual 72-66 win for the visitors.

After surging out to the commanding lead, GW endured a Dayton response as the Flyers closed to a 10-point gap at halftime as the teams went to the dressing rooms with the Colonials leading, 40-30. The good guys came out firing once again to open the second and boosted their margin back to 17 with a half-opening 7-0 spurt, only to see Dayton respond with a 12-2 answer to cut within seven points for the first time since the game was only 2:13 old (GW 10-3). A DJ Williams three-pointer at the 12:57 mark goosed GW up to a double figures lead again, but it was all Flyers from there. A 22-3 run from the guests gave them their biggest lead of the game, 66-59, with 4:04 to play, and the Colonials couldn't rally.

A pair of Javier Langarica freebies gave GW a fighting chance down 68-66 with :26 seconds to go, though GW would get no closer. Williams finished with a career-high 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while Terry Nolan Jr. picked up double digit rebounds for the second game in a row with a team-high 10. While the teams each knocked down 10 triples, as every GW starter hit at least one, Dayton was more efficient from deep and Jordan Davis was a killer. Davis' game-high 25 points, including a 7-of-11 night from three-point range, was the ultimate dagger that GW to which GW had no answer.

Josh Cunningham came in as Dayton's top scoring threat, though he only had six points on the night, all of which came from the free throw line as he finished with a lone field goal attempt. His impact came on the glass in a game-high 13-rebound showing.

Trey Landers (12) also hit double digits for Dayton, while sophomores Maceo Jack (13), Langarica (12), and Mazzulla (11) did the deed for GW. The Flyers' Jalen Crutcher dished a game-high 11 dimes as Dayton assisted on 18 of 25 made field goals.

GW (1-1 in A-10 play) will look to bounce back for its first home A-10 win of the year on Saturday against Richmond at 4pm on ESPN+.