Thursday, February 09, 2006

GW Makes History, Rolls Over Dayton

The George Washington Colonials are beginning to look like one of those teams that cannot be beaten by an opponent, only by themselves. In the Atlantic 10, anyway, there doesn't seem to be a team that can match or counteract their speed, depth and intensity. Last night's 81-67 win over Dayton was a close game right up to the opening tip. Flyer guard Jimmy Binnie hit a three-pointer on Dayton's first possession, and the Colonials scored the next 14 points, forcing six Dayton turnovers in four minutes. Dayton cut the lead to eight on a Brian Roberts jumper with 4:13 to play in the first period, but the Colonials closed the half with a 13-2 run to lead 49-30.

Dayton never got closer than 14 in a second half that turned into the Danilo show; Pinnock scored 11 points, four of them on two tremendous alley oop dunks, actually throwing the pass to himself on the second. Roberts, Dayton's leading scorer at 16.9 ppg, became the latest casualty of the Colonials' defense, scoring only 11 points on 5-14 shooting, 0-7 from three point range.

The win brings George Washington's record to 19-1, matching the best start in school history by the 1953-54 GW squad. That team finished ranked #7 in the nation; with #6 Florida's home loss to South Carolina last night, the Colonials are poised to equal that achievement as well. If they keep winning, the only mark left for them to reach will be the Sweet 16 finish of the 1992-93 team. Frankly speaking, it will be a disappointment if they don't blow that away, too.

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