Web Update
Thursday, Dec. 13, 10:49 p.m.

When GW men’s basketball coach Karl Hobbs scheduled a game at Binghamton University for the middle of December, he did it as a nod to Bearcats’ first-year head coach Kevin Broadus, a former GW assistant. What Hobbs did not expect was that Broadus’ team, which was 1-7 entering the game, would put up a serious fight. And win.

Binghamton defeated the recently listless Colonials 71-59 in Vestal, N.Y.

“I think that we got off to a poor start,” said Hobbs, whose team is 3-5 this year. “We built such a hole for ourselves that we basically had to play a mistake-free second half. We had a few bad turnovers that didn’t allow us to get back into the game. I have to give them a lot of credit. They were well-prepared.”

While the rest of the state was battling a snow storm, GW (3-5) was battling to stay afloat against a typically inferior opponent. Miles Beatty did not see floor time after suffering an Achilles injury during the pre-game shootaround and senior Maureece Rice did not play in the second half due to cramping. The Colonials only found themselves in contention late in the game. But the Bearcats did just enough to stay on top, sending GW to its fifth loss in six games.

Junior Rob Diggs, who had no points in a loss at Virginia Tech last weekend, was largely responsible for a GW late-game run. A put-back dunk by the forward off a missed layup by junior Wynton Witherspoon (18 points) put the Colonials within five. Diggs finished the game with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

“He really responded,” Hobbs said. “Great to see a guy not play up to his abilities and then see him respond the next game.”

Junior Noel Wilmore also added 10 points, all in the first half.

GW trailed by as much as 16 in the first half. The Colonials could not contain Binghamton sophomore Lazar Trifunovic, who had 19 points in the first half and 23 points for the game. He was one of four Bearcats in double digits.

“He really dominated the first half,” Hobbs said.

Foul trouble also plagued the Colonials all game. Sophomore Damian Hollis fouled out and GW allowed the Bearcats 40 shots from the charity stripe, 29 of which they converted.

The Colonials now have 10 days off before facing Longwood University (2-9) at Smith Center Dec. 23 at 2 p.m.