Men's Basketball Falls Just Shy at Saint Joseph's, 79-75

Wednesday, February 21

Philadelphia, PA

7 p.m.

George Washington University

Saint Joseph's

2/21/2024 9:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Playing without two of its top players in Darren Buchanan Jr. and Garrett Johnson, both nursing nagging injuries, GW men's basketball put forth a valiant effort on Wednesday night at Hagan Arena, but was edged out, 79-75, by Saint Joseph's.

With his team shorthanded, James Bishop IV put on a virtuoso performance, starting by scoring the team's first 12 points in the opening four minutes. Neither team could seemingly miss in the early-going as the free-flowing action saw St. Joe's in front, 21-20, at the first media timeout that came more than eight minutes into the game.

The Hawks led by as many as eight, 35-27, but GW worked its way back into the game with Bishop leading the charge and first-years Jacoi Hutchinson and Zamoku Weluche-Ume providing assistance. Hutchinson's pull-up jumper with just over a minute left brought the Buff & Blue within one, 44-43, at intermission.

GW found itself down five, seven minutes into the second half, but went on a 10-0 run that was punctuated by an emphatic Weluche-Ume slam to put the visitors in front, 64-59, with 10 minutes remaining. However, the Buff & Blue went nearly seven minutes until their next field goal and saw St. Joe's retake the lead by as many as six during the span.

Nevertheless, GW had the ball down three in the final 30 seconds, but an untimely turnover doomed the Buff & Blue as they fell for the ninth-straight game.

Bishop matched his season-high with 32 points, his third 30-point game of the season and first since Jan. 3 vs. Fordham, drilling four 3-pointers and dishing out four assists. Hutchinson continued his recent ascension with 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds and five assists.

Erik Reynolds II led St. Joe's with 20 points and six assists while Xzayvier Brown scored 14 of his 16 in the second half for the Hawks.

GW's next opportunity to right the ship comes on Saturday afternoon as the Revolutionaries visit Saint Louis for a 3 p.m. tip with the Billikens. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.