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 Noel Wilmore's 12 points helped GW avoid a preseason upset Wednesday at Smith Center. |
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Fright Night! GW Outlasts UDC, 74-71, in Preseason OT Thriller
Oct. 31, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC -- Halloween wasn't supposed to be this scary for the George Washington men's basketball team as they battled from behind for most of the game and defeated Div. II University of the District of Columbia, 74-71 in overtime, Wednesday night in a preseason exhibition game at Charles E. Smith Athletic Center. It was the first game for the new-look Colonials who return just one starter from last year's 23-9 NCAA Tournament squad.
In a foul-plagued contest that saw the teams combine for 75 personal fouls, a technical foul, and nearly two hours and 40 minutes of action, GW emerged behind a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds from junior F Wynton Witherspoon. Witherspoon, who transferred from Virginia Tech prior to last season, hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 64-64. UDC brought the ball across halfcourt and called a timeout to set up a potential game-winning play. After in-bounding the ball, UDC's Frank Peterson drove the lane but GW's Maureece Rice slapped the ball out of his hands on the way to the basket to thwart the play as time expired.
In overtime, the Firebirds again took a quick lead on a three-pointer by Peterson and led 69-67 until the 1:57 mark when Rice drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to ge GW a 70-69 lead. A pair of free throws by UDC's Antwon Hawkins gave the Firebirds a 71-70 advantage with 1:19 remaining. Colonials freshman Xavier Alexander then converted on a driving layup to grab the lead for good at 72-71 with 53 seconds showing. Witherspon converted two more foul shots for a 74-71 cushion with five seconds left. UDC had the last shot to tie but Charlie Smallwood's three-point attempt clanged off the rim and the Colonials controlled the rebound as the clock ran out setting off a celebration of relief from the nearly 3,000 in attendance.
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GW was without the services of injured point guard Travis King who figures to be the Colonials' first different starting point guard in four years following the graduation of Carl Elliott. The Colonials looked out of sync on offense for much of the night and had to overcome an uncharacteristically poor shooting night by Rice who began the game by missing his first 10 field goal attempts. He finished with 11 points on 2-13 shooting but 6-7 from the line. Junior Noel Wilmore looked confident in draining 3-4 from long range en route to a 12-point performance.
Free throw shooting cost UDC a chance at a monumental upset as the Firebirds could muster only 56 percent (31-of-55) from the line. The teams combined to commit 46 turnovers, 24 by UDC and 22 by the Colonials.
The visiting Firebirds were led by Peterson's game-high 22 points and teammate Willie Shaw added an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double before fouling out with 3:26 left in regulation.
GW opens the 2007-08 regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, at home against Mount St. Mary's in a 2 p.m. game at GW's Smith Center.
