Men’s basketball beat Hampton University 82-54 on Friday at the Charles E. Smith Center.
Leading the pack offensively for the Revs was sophomore guard Trey Autry, who set a new career high in points with 14. The Revs led 32-24 at halftime, and a 19-point run that brought the score to 55-36 put the game out of reach for the Pirates at the end of the second half.
Graduate student guard Gerald Drumgoole Jr. scored 13 points and sophomore guard Jacoi Hutchinson added 12 of his own. Redshirt sophomore forward Darren Buchanan Jr. and redshirt junior forward Rafael Castro, who led the team in points last game, each scored 10 points.
Despite the rather quiet night from his teammate Buchanan, who typically is the Revs’ leading scorer, Hutchinson said that the team relies on Buchanan to be a leader night in and night out.
“A lot of people don’t know he’s a very good leader for the team, we look up to him both vocally and the way he plays,” Hutchinson said.
After three minutes of no scoring by either team in the middle of the first half, redshirt freshman guard Christian Jones broke the pattern with a long 3-pointer, bringing the score to 12-4. Hampton’s sophomore guard Trevor Smith nailed home a 3-pointer, raising the score to 12-7, but Hutchinson immediately followed with another 3-pointer from the right, increasing the score to 15-7.
Out of a timeout, Castro’s jump shot fell for the Revs at 6:44 minutes remaining in the first half, bringing the score to 21-11.
Autry said that the addition of Castro has been crucial to the team’s start, particularly his strength in rebounding. Castro recorded a double-double in the Revs’ victory over Mercyhurst University earlier in the week.
“He’s been a great addition for us,” Autry said. “Very versatile big man who has experience,” Autry said. “He’s been also really good on the rebounding glass for us, which is something that we’ve been really focusing on. Rafael has been great for us, and he will continue to do big things for us.”
After the Pirates found themselves in foul trouble, Buchanan scored a tip-in, bringing the score to 32-24 at the end of the first half.
Graduate student guard Wayne Bristol Jr. opened the second half for Hampton with a quick 2-pointer, bringing the score to 32-26. Castro rebounded Drumgoole with a dunk at 16 minutes left, securing the Revs’ 10-point lead yet again, bringing the score to 38-28.
Autry would record all 14 of his points in the second half, providing the Revs with the insurance they needed to put the game out of reach for the Pirates. GW would go on an 18-4 run across the middle five minutes of the half.
Autry said he credits his teammates and coaches for all their support after his new career high in points. Last season, Autry averaged 5.6 points per game, recording a then-career high of 13 points in the Revs’ 76-45 victory over Coppin State University.
“It means a lot,” Autry said. “Having my teammates just trust me day in and day out, when the ball is not going in and the ball is going in, my highs and lows, just being able to have a good support system, not only my teammates but my coaches, just always being around me, always encouraging me, just telling me to keep shooting.”
Head Coach Chris Caputo said that he is pleased with his team’s performance in Friday’s matchup and wants them to keep building off the early season games.
He added that Jones, Hutchinson and Autry’s strong performances are a product of their second years with the team.
“They’ve been hardened by their experience,” Caputo said.“In Christian’s case, it’s the red shirting piece. But I think Trey and Jacoi got thrown really into the fire in a way that some players say they want, but it’s very difficult, right? The pressure is real. The coaching is real. The mistakes are not acceptable when you’re in the fire.”
The win brings GW to 2-0 on the young season. The Revs will face off against the North Carolina A&T Aggies next at 7 p.m. on November 12 in the Smith Center.
