Seniors Yegor Mescheriakov and Shawnta Rogers had different games in the first round of the BB&T Classic against DePaul University Sunday at the MCI Center.

Mescheriakov was red-hot, but Rogers couldn’t get his shot to fall in the Colonials’ 87-79 loss to the Blue Demons.

GW’s 6-9 forward dominated the first half, accounting for 20 of GW’s 44 points. Mescheriakov connected on nine of 10 field goal attempts and grabbed five rebounds in the first 20 minutes. He concluded the game with 26 points and eight boards.

“I think I’m just coming back to my normal regular shape,” Mescheriakov said. “It takes some time of course to adjust to a coach’s system, knowing where you’re shots are.”

Rogers shot a dismal four of 18 for 11 points. The Blue Demons consistently beat Rogers off the dribble, with guards Willie Coleman, Kerry Hartfield and Rashon Burno, accounting for 39 points on 12-of-23 shooting.

“I was just off,” Rogers said. “I have no excuses.”

Mescheriakov made a pair of dazzling plays with GW down 51-40 and less than a minute left until halftime.

After ripping down a rebound, Seco Camara led a three-on-one fast break with Roey Eyal on his left and Mescheriakov trailing behind. Camara stopped at the foul line and gave a no-look pass to Eyal, who was too strong with a left-handed layup attempt. Mescheriakov streaked down the lane, collected the board and slammed it home with a thundering dunk, making the score 51-42.

On the Colonials’ next and final possession of the half, Mescheriakov made a steal with 10 seconds on the clock. Leading the fast break, he awed the crowd with an around-the-back dribble to beat a DePaul defender. To cap the play, he hit Mike King with a perfect lead pass, which King laid in to cut the Blue Demons’ lead to seven at 51-44.