George Washington University

Dec. 30, 2011

GW Notes vs. Delaware State (12/31/11)

WHO: George Washington Men's Basketball (4-8)
WHAT: 2011-12 Season Game #13 vs. Delaware State (4-6)
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338), Washington, D.C.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m.
HOW: Tickets
AUDIO: FederalNewsRadio.com, 1500/820 AM (Byron Kerr, Yegor Mescheriakov)
VIDEO: GW All-Access
STATS: GameTracker
PROMOTION: Kids Day - Discounted tickets available that come with free food vouchers for the New Years Eve afternoon contest.

WASHINGTON - George Washington men's basketball plays its final non-conference home game of the 2011-12 season on Saturday afternoon with its first-ever meeting against Delaware State at 3 p.m. The New Years Eve matinee game concludes the Colonials' stretch of four consecutive games at Charles E. Smith Center.

The Colonials will look to snap their seven-game losing skid, which includes three straight home losses by a combined 13 points. In three of its four home losses this season, GW has battled back from a large deficit during the second half, only to fall short in its comeback bid over the final minutes.
vs. Loyola (Md.) - Largest deficit: 20 pts.; Closed within: 8 pts.; Result: L, 65-55
vs. James Madison - Largest deficit: 22 pts.; Closed within: 4 pts.; Result: L, 62-57
vs. UAB - Largest deficit: 16 pts.; Closed within: 3 pts.; Result: L, 56-49

In its most recent outing, junior Lasan Kromah's school-record nine steals were outdone by Cameron Moore's school-record 24 rebounds as GW dropped a 56-49 decision to UAB at Charles E. Smith Center. Kromah led GW in scoring with 15 points and added five rebounds and five assists along with his nine thefts, which eclipsed the previous school-mark of eight set three different times by recent GW Athletic Hall of Fame selection Shawnta Rogers. Moore, the preseason Conference USA Player of the Year, had a double-double by halftime en route to a dominating 19-point, 24-rebound effort. The Colonials suffered through a 13:30 stretch without a field goal, going 0-for-15 during a 17-1 Blazers' run, for their largest deficit of the night at 23-7. Trailing 37-22, GW fought its way back within 43-40 and would get within a possession of the lead on three other occasions, but UAB answered at the free throw line every time.

Juniors Lasan Kromah and David Pellom have proven to be consistent producers over GW's last five games:
Kromah - 5 gms., 11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.6 spg, 31.2 mpg
Pellom - 4 gms., 15.5 ppg on 75% shooting (27-36), 4.8 rpg, 1.5 spg, 27.8 mpg

The Colonials have proven to be a second-half team so far this season, on average scoring 6.5 more points (27.1/33.6) while shooting 8.5 percentage points higher (36.6/45.1) over the final 20 minutes through 12 games.

Delaware State (4-6) will visit GW on a tight turnaround after visiting Georgia on Friday afternoon and traveling to the District from Athens, Ga., later Friday.

The Hornets are expected to have injured starters Jay Threatt and Kendall Gray back in the lineup after both missed their most recent home game against Tennessee State on Dec. 17. However, DSU is expected to remain without the services of leading scorer Tahj Tate, who is suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. DSU is 0-2 without Tate, a freshman who averages 15.4 points.

Threatt, a senior and preseason Second Team All-MEAC guard, is DSU's career steals leader and is on pace to break the program's career assists mark as well. He currently ranks among the national leaders in steals per game (2.8 spg) and free throw percentage (.926). Gray, a junior, is on pace to set a new program career blocks record and currently ranks eighth nationally with 3.4 blocks per game.

Two of Delaware State's four victories have come against non-Division I foes - an 86-65 win over Wilmington (Del.) on Nov. 12 and a 104-41 rout of Philadelphia Biblical on Nov. 23. The Hornets also posted a victory over common GW opponent UMES with a 78-68 road win on Dec. 3.

Casey Walker, last year's MEAC Rookie of the Year, is second on the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game, while Marques Oliver adds 10.9 points and team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game.