Saturday, January 18
Fairfax, VA
12:30 p.m.
George Washington University
13-5,2-3Atlantic 10
77
at
80
George Mason
14-5,5-1Atlantic 10
1
2
OT 1
OT 2
F
George Washington
35
26
8
8
77
George Mason
29
32
8
11
80
Darren Buchanan Jr. was a perfect 5-for-5 shooting at George Mason.
Men’s Basketball Stumbles in 2OT at George Mason, 80-77
1/18/2025 6:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
It was either side's game to win on several occasions Saturday, when George Washington took on conference-leading George Mason on the road in a game that needed an extra 10 minutes to reach a conclusion. The GW Revs and nearby Patriots gave a national television audience a thrill of a contest, one that was ultimately claimed by the hosts, 80-77, after GW couldn't get a shot off in the final seconds.
The Revolutionaries had the first serious chance to steal the road W, with the game tied at the end of regulation and George Washington at the line shooting two with 1.9 seconds left. A pair of misses sent the ballgame into the first extra session.
With 69-67 with 20.2 ticks left in OT, GW regained possession and this time after Rafael Castro was fouled, he coolly canned both to knot the score. After a coast-to-coast sprint that resulted in the would-be buzzer-beating bucket for GM being waved off with the shot released just after the horn, the nail-biter was sent into a second extra session.
By the time GM's Jalen Hayes and K.D. Johnson and Castro along with Gerald Drumgoole Jr. had all fouled out, the game was a battle of attrition as double-overtime wound down. After a Christian Jones three cut a four-point Patriots' lead to one, 78-77, with 40.6 to play, GW held on defense with a chance for a walk-off win. Two point-blank tries rimmed out, then two George Mason freebies later, the Buff & Blue had one last chance down three in search of a third OT stanza. It wasn't to be though, as the Patriots defended the in-bounds pass well and GW couldn't get a shot off.
Darren Buchanan Jr., coming off the bench as he works himself back from an ankle injury, was perfect from the floor, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts en route to 15 points. Trey Autry had 15, and saw the final play drawn up for him.
Jones led the guests with 16 points, four assists and three steals in a career-high 41 minutes of action. Autry also played more than the full 40, logging a career-high and game-high 43 minutes.
Before having to sit, Castro once again double-doubled, showing off his bonafides as a premier A-10 big man with 12 points, 11 rebounds, game-high four blocks, and game-high tying (with Jones) four assists.
Free throws were once again GW's undoing, as the team left 10 points at the line in a .630 effort from the stripe, including the pair of misses that could've won it. Facing a zone look at times, George Washington also couldn't find its range in the second half with a .345 fg%.
The teams battled through 13 ties and saw the lead swap hands seven times, though each team did enjoy a 10-point lead at times: GW's at 50-40 and GM's at 19-9.
GW's next game also comes on the road, Wednesday at UMass at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Revolutionaries had the first serious chance to steal the road W, with the game tied at the end of regulation and George Washington at the line shooting two with 1.9 seconds left. A pair of misses sent the ballgame into the first extra session.
With 69-67 with 20.2 ticks left in OT, GW regained possession and this time after Rafael Castro was fouled, he coolly canned both to knot the score. After a coast-to-coast sprint that resulted in the would-be buzzer-beating bucket for GM being waved off with the shot released just after the horn, the nail-biter was sent into a second extra session.
By the time GM's Jalen Hayes and K.D. Johnson and Castro along with Gerald Drumgoole Jr. had all fouled out, the game was a battle of attrition as double-overtime wound down. After a Christian Jones three cut a four-point Patriots' lead to one, 78-77, with 40.6 to play, GW held on defense with a chance for a walk-off win. Two point-blank tries rimmed out, then two George Mason freebies later, the Buff & Blue had one last chance down three in search of a third OT stanza. It wasn't to be though, as the Patriots defended the in-bounds pass well and GW couldn't get a shot off.
Darren Buchanan Jr., coming off the bench as he works himself back from an ankle injury, was perfect from the floor, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts en route to 15 points. Trey Autry had 15, and saw the final play drawn up for him.
Jones led the guests with 16 points, four assists and three steals in a career-high 41 minutes of action. Autry also played more than the full 40, logging a career-high and game-high 43 minutes.
Before having to sit, Castro once again double-doubled, showing off his bonafides as a premier A-10 big man with 12 points, 11 rebounds, game-high four blocks, and game-high tying (with Jones) four assists.
Free throws were once again GW's undoing, as the team left 10 points at the line in a .630 effort from the stripe, including the pair of misses that could've won it. Facing a zone look at times, George Washington also couldn't find its range in the second half with a .345 fg%.
The teams battled through 13 ties and saw the lead swap hands seven times, though each team did enjoy a 10-point lead at times: GW's at 50-40 and GM's at 19-9.
GW's next game also comes on the road, Wednesday at UMass at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
GWU
GMU
FG%
.391
.422
3FG%
.222
.176
FT%
.630
.639
RB
42
47
TO
18
15
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
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