Men's Basketball Moves On With Win Against Fordham, 53-49

Wednesday, March 3

Richmond, VA

2 p.m.

George Washington University

5-11,3-5Atlantic 10

Fordham

2-12,2-11Atlantic 10

Fordham

George Washington

Photo by: Keith Lucas, Sideline Media

3/3/2021 4:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - For the second time in as many seasons, GW men's basketball met Fordham in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship. This time, the result was different.

The Buff and Blue secured a bit of revenge after the Rams ended GW's season last year, thanks to a clutch 3 from Jamison Battle with :40 to play. With the victory, GW advances to play Thursday against another familiar foe, Revolutionary Rival George Mason, in the #11 vs. #6 matchup at Richmond's Robins Center at 5:30 p.m. on NBCSN.

What started strongly in GW's favor turned into a back-and-forth affair late. In the first half of action, Ricky Lindo Jr. eclipsed his previous career high of 13 points with half of GW's total in the opening stanza to give his side a 28-25 edge at intermission.

Fordham took its first lead of the game with 13:19 to play after GW had led by as many as 15 in the first. From there, a rock fight ensued. Neither squad led by more than a possession from the 17:48 mark when GW clung to a 31-30 edge, until there were 2.4 seconds to play and a pair of Lindo free throws iced the game at 53-49.

The lead changed hands six times between Fordham's first lead and GW tying the contest at 45 apiece with 5:45 to go, and somehow, the tie game seemed to get even closer. The clubs were knotted again at 47 before Fordham's Jalen Cobb gave the Rams a 49-47 edge with 2:59 to play. GW then pitched a shutout for the remainder of the game. A Lindo free throw cut the lead in half at the 2:40 mark, and after two scoreless minutes, Battle took center stage. His triple from the deep wing saved the day before Lindo's freebies iced it.

In just his sixth game at GW, Lindo looked like every bit of an All-Conference player. His career day included a dominant 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, with 14 rebounds and three steals on the other end. Battle, meanwhile, the A-10's second-leading scorer in league games, finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, none bigger than when his team needed him most. With James Bishop (team-high five assists), GW's three amigos each logged 40 minutes.

The adrenaline and emotion of March will now have to carry GW into Thursday for a rematch with the Patriots, who GDUB just slipped to a week ago in Fairfax, Va. GW held a lead in the closing minutes before George Mason escaped in that one with a 63-58 win. Round Two comes tomorrow with the winner advancing to play #3 Davidson on Friday.