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 Rob Diggs also had 14 rebounds on the night. |
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Men's Basketball Falls to Vermont in Rainbow Classic Saturday
Dec. 28, 2008
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HONOLULU - George Washington men's basketball coach Karl Hobbs tabbed Vermont as the favorite to win the 45th Annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic and in Saturday's opening game, the Catamounts showed why. Vermont held off a late Colonials' rally to win, 83-72, at the University of Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center.
GW senior Rob Diggs showed the form that Colonials fans have come to expect by scoring a season-high 25 points on a variety of mid-range jumpers, dunks and 9-13 from the free throw line. The forward from Brandywine, MD, also grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots. Junior Damian Hollis was the only other Colonial in double figures with 15 points.
Vermont led from start to finish scoring the game's first six points, all by Colin McIntosh, before GW got on the board. The Catamounts took a 38-29 halftime lead and appeared in control after a layup by Marqus Blakely gave UVM its largest lead of the game at 51-37 with 15:12 remaining in the game.
GW was not through however, and turned up the pressure on defense and managed to whittle the deficit to four, 65-61, on a three-pointer by Noel Wilmore at the 5:22 mark. Following a Blakely jumper, Hollis connected on a jumper to again get GW to within four at the 4:55 mark. UVM's Maurice Joseph was fouled by Xavier Alexander on a three-point attempt and sank all three free throws to give the Cats some breathing room at 70-63. Hollis responded with another jumper before Garvey Young hit a long three to break GW's momentum. The Catamounts converted all four of their free throw attempts over the final minute for the final margin.
Vermont (7-3) was led by Joseph's 18 points, one of four Catamounts in double figures. They also got 15 points from Mike Trimboli, 14 from McIntosh, while Blakely had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
GW (6-3) will next face the host Rainbow Warriors (6-4) who lost, 74-58, to Colorado State later Saturday. The Colonials face Hawai'i at 12:30 a.m. (EST) Monday in the consolation bracket at the Sheriff Center.
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