George Washington University Athletics
Christian Jones had a game-high tying six assists at UMass.
Men's Basketball Starts Hot But Slips at UMass, 74-61
1/22/2025 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The George Washington men's basketball team hit the road to Western Massachusetts Wednesday for its last trip ever to meet UMass as conference foes. Looking to get back to an even .500 in the conference, it started GW's way but ultimately wasn't to be in the 74-61 defeat.
Frank Martin's team came in hot, following a pair of wins last week that included a 120-118 triple-overtime marathon at Fordham and an 82-60 blasting of La Salle on Sunday. While GW didn't make it easy on the Minutemen, sprinting out to a 19-10 edge early, once UMass gained control the hosts barely looked back. GW cut into a 36-31 halftime deficit to get within one at 40-39 with 16:05 to play, but a 13-4 Massachusetts run stretched the lead into double figures just before the under-12 minute timeout of the second half, and George Washington wouldn't get within two-possessions the rest of the way.
Rafael Castro once again loomed large for the Revolutionaries, continuing a sterling stretch of play with a game-high 23 points. The Big East transfer also paced GW with seven rebounds, while pushing his way to 9-of-11 field goal makes and a 5-of-7 night at the line. Offense didn't come easy though for the balance of the GW Revs, aside from redshirt freshman Christian Jones' 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and game-high tying six assists. GW shot .355 in the contest, including .238 from deep.
GW and UMass are scheduled to meet at the Smith Center for the final time as Atlantic 10 competitors in exactly one month, Feb. 22. As a result of UMass' move to the MAC next year, GW will be the last remaining charter member from the A-10's founding in 1976. First though George Washington looks to crack back into the win column at home Saturday, with Saint Louis and its pair of preseason All-Conference honorees in Gibson Jimerson and A-10 newcomer Robbie Avila coming to Smith Center for a 2 p.m. tip.Â
Frank Martin's team came in hot, following a pair of wins last week that included a 120-118 triple-overtime marathon at Fordham and an 82-60 blasting of La Salle on Sunday. While GW didn't make it easy on the Minutemen, sprinting out to a 19-10 edge early, once UMass gained control the hosts barely looked back. GW cut into a 36-31 halftime deficit to get within one at 40-39 with 16:05 to play, but a 13-4 Massachusetts run stretched the lead into double figures just before the under-12 minute timeout of the second half, and George Washington wouldn't get within two-possessions the rest of the way.
Rafael Castro once again loomed large for the Revolutionaries, continuing a sterling stretch of play with a game-high 23 points. The Big East transfer also paced GW with seven rebounds, while pushing his way to 9-of-11 field goal makes and a 5-of-7 night at the line. Offense didn't come easy though for the balance of the GW Revs, aside from redshirt freshman Christian Jones' 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and game-high tying six assists. GW shot .355 in the contest, including .238 from deep.
GW and UMass are scheduled to meet at the Smith Center for the final time as Atlantic 10 competitors in exactly one month, Feb. 22. As a result of UMass' move to the MAC next year, GW will be the last remaining charter member from the A-10's founding in 1976. First though George Washington looks to crack back into the win column at home Saturday, with Saint Louis and its pair of preseason All-Conference honorees in Gibson Jimerson and A-10 newcomer Robbie Avila coming to Smith Center for a 2 p.m. tip.Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballGW Men's Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure (Post-Game Press Conference)
Thursday, March 05
GW Men's Basketball vs. Dayton (Post-Game Press Conference)
Saturday, February 28
GW Men's Basketball vs George Mason (Post-Game Press Conference)
Saturday, February 14
GW Men's Basketball vs. Rhode Island (Post-Game Press Conference)
Wednesday, February 11