Men’s Basketball Pushes Record To 4-0

Sports — By Ash McDaniel on November 24, 2009 at 11:49 pm

(All Photos: Jordan Teller, Daily Colonial Basketball Photographer)

GW is now 4-0, a feat the Colonials (4-0) haven’t met since 2006. On Tuesday night the Colonials advanced their record in a 65-50 win over Princeton (2-2).

GW turned the ball over 20 times, but was able to hold onto their lead because of good defensive plays and high scoring from their freshman core of Bryan Bynes, Tim Johnson and Lasan Kromah.

“We’d steal the ball and throw it right back to them,” Head Coach Karl Hobbs said. “The guys were trying to make plays a little too quick. We wanted to get out and play fast paced, and up the tempo of the game. I think as a result we got a little too over exuberant at some points.”

Bynes led the Colonials in scoring with 13 points, including two three-pointers within 40 seconds of each other with two minutes left.

“Before the game I spent an hour working on my jumpshot because I’ve been off the past couple of games,” Bynes said, “That area was one point I wanted to make a statement about tonight. And it worked out the best in the end.  I think I hit some big shots at the end of the game.”

GW’s defense was able to hold the lead with three blocks, seven steals and seven fast-break points. Kromah, Johnson and David Pellom helped out on defense with two steals each.

“The one thing that was consistent was our defense,” Hobbs said, “When you look at our defense and our rebounds, that’s how we were able to get the lead and keep the lead.”

Senior Damian Hollis had nine points on the night, but he contributed seven rebounds to the effort as well.

Hobbs said the defense and offense looked good as a whole, but problems with ball control on offense made the team look young.

“We looked confused. We played a little too fast,” he said. “I think at times we were too much in a hurry.”

The team shot 56.3 percent from outside the arc, with four three-pointers coming from Bynes.

Hobbs said he was most impressed with the team making 16-17 from the charity stripe.

“Today in practice, in our shoot around, every time Tony Taylor missed his first free throw we had to run as a team,” Hobbs said, “It just so happens at the start of the game, down the stretch, they intentionally fouled Tony.  It was nice to see him get up there and make that free throw.”

Princeton (2-2) accumulated 15 fouls during the game, similar to their previous loss to Army where the Tigers tried to make a comeback but their 20 fouls were too much to overcome.

GW will play the Oregon State Beavers at 2 pm on Saturday afternoon.  The Beavers are coached by Craig Robinson, brother of Michelle Obama, so look out for Obama sightings.  Hobbs said the team looks like they’re growing and that Saturday’s game will give him a real sense of where the team is.  This is the first time a Pac-10 team will play in the Smith Center.

 

 

 

 

Tags: game recap, men's basketball, photo slideshow, Princeton, Smith Center