Saturday, February 8
Washington, DC
12:00 PM
George Washington University
10-14,4-7Atlantic 10
51
vs
82
Rhode Island
18-5,10-1Atlantic 10
1
2
F
Rhode Island
41
41
82
George Washington
25
26
51
Men's Basketball Slips to URI
2/8/2020 3:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON — On the journey to excellence for the young George Washington men's basketball team, there are going to be days like Saturday. Starting four first-years against a deep and talented Rhode Island Rams team that is projected to be an at-large invitee to the NCAA Tournament, the Colonials were outmanned in an 82-51 setback.
Fatts Russell, a 21-year-old junior who entered play as the A-10's leading scorer, showed off his Player of Year credentials for Rhode Island, with a game-high 24-point effort in a 6-of-10 shooting show from long range. Cyril Langevine, a 22-year-old big man, double-doubled with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Jeff Dowtin, also 22 and starting in the Rams' three-guard starting lineup, dropped in 14 points and bottled up GW's young guards in a three-steal day. That combination of experience and smarts learned through years of battling together, simply overmatched GW, with its first-year class of Jamison Battle, Jameer Nelson Jr., Chase Paar and Shawn Walker Jr. all starting and logging heavy minutes.
In his first A-10 start, Walker Jr. put in a season-high 14 points while also notching five dimes. Paar registered 10 points and eight rebounds in a near double-double effort against the physical Rams, while Nelson Jr. got a great look at sterling guard play while also figuring out how to be successful himself in his 11-point, 5-assist, 5-rebound performance.
A highlight for the program was the presence of GW men's basketball alumnus Yuta Watanabe, who now plays for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, and was welcomed warmly by the home crowd in a standing ovation in the second half. The 2016 NIT Champion and 2018 A-10 Defensive Player of Year stood too as a living beacon for where the 18- and 19-year-old Colonials are going. It just didn't happen Saturday.
The Buff and Blue hits its bye week with this Wednesday off, before making the trip across the Potomac to play at Revolutionary Rival George Mason a week from today at 4:30 p.m. on NBCSN. After downing the Patriots earlier this season, the Colonials are looking for the sweep to aid the Athletics Department's quest for the Tricorn Hat Trophy, awarded to the school that has the better head-to-head record against the other in the all-sports competition each year.
Fatts Russell, a 21-year-old junior who entered play as the A-10's leading scorer, showed off his Player of Year credentials for Rhode Island, with a game-high 24-point effort in a 6-of-10 shooting show from long range. Cyril Langevine, a 22-year-old big man, double-doubled with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Jeff Dowtin, also 22 and starting in the Rams' three-guard starting lineup, dropped in 14 points and bottled up GW's young guards in a three-steal day. That combination of experience and smarts learned through years of battling together, simply overmatched GW, with its first-year class of Jamison Battle, Jameer Nelson Jr., Chase Paar and Shawn Walker Jr. all starting and logging heavy minutes.
In his first A-10 start, Walker Jr. put in a season-high 14 points while also notching five dimes. Paar registered 10 points and eight rebounds in a near double-double effort against the physical Rams, while Nelson Jr. got a great look at sterling guard play while also figuring out how to be successful himself in his 11-point, 5-assist, 5-rebound performance.
A highlight for the program was the presence of GW men's basketball alumnus Yuta Watanabe, who now plays for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, and was welcomed warmly by the home crowd in a standing ovation in the second half. The 2016 NIT Champion and 2018 A-10 Defensive Player of Year stood too as a living beacon for where the 18- and 19-year-old Colonials are going. It just didn't happen Saturday.
The Buff and Blue hits its bye week with this Wednesday off, before making the trip across the Potomac to play at Revolutionary Rival George Mason a week from today at 4:30 p.m. on NBCSN. After downing the Patriots earlier this season, the Colonials are looking for the sweep to aid the Athletics Department's quest for the Tricorn Hat Trophy, awarded to the school that has the better head-to-head record against the other in the all-sports competition each year.
Team Stats
URI
GWU
FG%
.518
.291
3FG%
.429
.087
FT%
.682
.739
RB
42
33
TO
17
20
STL
11
7
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballGW v LaSalle MBB (03/01/25) Post Game Presser
Sunday, March 02
GW v UMASS (2/22/25) Post Game PRESSER GW
Sunday, February 23
GW MBB vs. GMU (02/05/25) Post Game Presser
Saturday, February 22
GW v SJU PRESSER (02/19/25) Players
Thursday, February 20