Another OT Thriller Makes GW a Winner, 83-79

Saturday, January 13

Washington, DC

2 p.m.

George Washington University

13-3,2-1Atlantic 10

Davidson

10-6,0-3Atlantic 10

OT 1

Davidson

George Washington

1/13/2024 5:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WASHINGTON - Through three conference games this season, the frenetic drama that is GW men's basketball has reached almost comical heights. Saturday at Smith Center the GW Revs bested Davidson in overtime, 83-79, in yet another Atlantic 10 contest that was a can't-look-away battle from the jump. Through 16 more lead changes and six ties, the visiting Wildcats and George Washington took 45 minutes to decide it, in a game that neither side led by more than eight throughout.

All told now for the 2-1 (A-10) GDUB squad, they've seen four overtime sessions, 59 lead changes, 37 ties, a road win on the final possession, and countless gasps, ooh's and aah's early in A-10 play from the GW faithful that have turned out to support the cardiac Revolutionaries.

While Garrett Johnson (career-high 23 points) and James Bishop (20) were offensive stars, combining to shoot 9-of-16 from three, were it not for the defense and energy of true first-year Jacoi Hutchinson, this bout easily could've gone the other way. Two critical steals in the closing minutes of regulation while George Washington was trying to come back and withstand a final Wildcats' push for the win gave the home team the opportunity to take it in OT. First trailing by three with Davidson inbounding with :33 to play, Hutchinson came up with a steal off an inbounds play that allowed his team a free throw to cut the edge to two. Then, a massive rebound on the other end from the young point man gifted Max Edwards (game-high 13 rebounds) a chance to tie it on a layup with 14 ticks to go. One final Hutchinson steal (his game-high tying third of the game) sent the game to the extra session, where GW got some slight breathing room.

Over the final five minutes the home team allowed just six field goal attempts and only four points, doubling up Davidson in the extra stanza to come away with its 13th win overall.

GW's field goal defense got gradually better throughout, from .531 in the first half, to .444 in the second and just .333 in OT. Thankfully for the GW Revs, the team was able to withstand a long day at the free throw line, leaving 12 points there in an 8-for-20 (.400) effort. Fortunately Davidson wasn't much better at the charity stripe (9-of-19, .474).

A quick turnaround now ensues off the OT game, with George Mason lurking Monday. A national TV audience will tune in on CBS Sports Network at 2 p.m. when the nearby foes go toe-to-toe in DC.