George Washington University

Jan. 28, 2012

Box Score | Box Score

GW Coach Lonergan Post-Game at Fordham (1/28/12)

GW Coach Lonergan, Taylor, Mikic Post-Game at Fordham (1/28/12)

BRONX, N.Y. - George Washington men's basketball rallied for its first lead at 55-53 with 2:09 to play, but Fordham closed on a 10-3 run to defeat the Colonials, 63-58, in Atlantic 10 action at Rose Hill Gym on Saturday.

Senior Tony Taylor, a native of nearby Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., who had a large contingent of family and friends in attendance, led GW (8-13, 3-4 A-10) with 17 points and seven assists, including 11 points and five assists to spark a second-half rally that had the Colonials poised to grab their second road win of the season.

Taylor's assist on junior Lasan Kromah's lay-in at the 2:09 mark gave GW a brief 55-53 advantage, but Fordham's Devon McMillan tied it 16 seconds later. The Colonials then missed three of their final four shots, and the Rams made 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute for the difference in the contest.

Fordham (9-11, 2-5 A-10) improved to 8-2 at Rose Hill Gym this season, while GW lost its seventh straight road game.

Sophomore Nemanja Mikic reached double-figures for the third straight game with 12 points and had a season-high seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kromah chipped in 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 26 minutes.

The trio combined to make nine 3-pointers and 13-of-32 field goals, while the remaining five players hit only 6-of-25 shots as the Colonials struggled to solve the Rams' zone defense and finished at 33 percent for the game. The Rams hit at 47 percent (22-of-47) and enjoyed a 44-24 rebounding edge.

Taylor scored 12 consecutive points during a run that pulled the Colonials within 45-41 with 8:15 to play, but Fordham's Branden Frazier, who led all players with 20 points, hit his fourth three-pointer of the game to send the Rams to a 51-43 advantage at the 6:48 mark.

The Colonials continued to rally though and used a 12-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to grab their first lead of the game at 55-53. Mikic hit his fourth fourth-pointer, Kromah scored four points - including the go-ahead basket with 2:09 left - and Bryan Bynes and Dwayne Smith both netted game-tying baskets during the 10-point swing.

McMillan knotted the score a third time, 55-55, after Kromah gave GW its only lead, and the Rams made 8-of-10 foul shots in the final minute to offset a late Kromah three-pointer that pulled the Colonials within 59-58 with 10 seconds remaining.

Frazier made a pair at the line for a three-point margin, and Taylor's last-chance three-point attempt with three seconds left clanged off the rim to set up a pair of game-clinching free throws from Marvin Dominique.

Chris Gaston added 16 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench, starter Kervin Bristol had 10 points and eight rebounds, and McMillan pitched in nine points and six assists for the Rams.

The Colonials were without the services of junior David Pellom, their third-leading scorer, who missed his second straight game due to a left knee injury.

GW returns to Charles E. Smith Center, where it's 3-0 in Atlantic 10 play this season, to host Xavier (13-7, 4-3 A-10) for the BUFF OUT game promotion on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to join the Colonials in wearing their buff colors to this Premium Game.

The contest will be televised regionally by CBS Sports Network and air in the D.C. market on NBC Washington Nonstop. It can also be viewed live on GW All-Access and heard live on FederalNewsRadio.com and 1050 AM.