Men’s basketball (15-8, 4-6 Atlantic 10) lost to conference-leading George Mason (18-5, 9-1 A-10) 53-50 on Wednesday, with a deep 3-point attempt from graduate student guard Gerald Drumgoole Jr. falling off the rim as time expired.
The Revolutionaries’ 50 points was the lowest point total and the only time they scored under 60 all season. A first half that only reaped 13 points off six for 23 shooting hampered their chance for a win.
Head Coach Chris Caputo said the team still struggles with shooting, despite the improvement from their last face-off against the Patriots, evident in the first half where the Revs struggled with 3-point shooting.
“I think we’re right there,” Caputo said. “I just think a little lack, a bit inexperienced, a little bit of a lack of shooting at times and it does cost you when you play against really good teams.”
GW didn’t reach double-digit points until nearly 12 minutes into the game, when a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Trey Autry brought the score to 12-11 — the only GW 3-pointer in the first half off 14 attempts.
Caputo said for the remainder of the season, the roster will continue to work on building stronger shooting skills and building their confidence.
“We’re in a good place, but we have to find a way to close these games in the next eight, we’ve taken a big step forward.”
George Mason also struggled on offense in the first half, shooting only 26.7 percent at 8-30. They managed to end the half on a 7-2 run to bring their halftime lead to 19-13.
Entering the second half, the offense began to pick up for both teams. Drumgoole, junior forward Rafael Castro and redshirt freshman guard Christian Jones all scored buckets as the Patriots started knocking down 3-pointers. They connected on five in the half on just nine attempts.
Their successful shooting from deep brought their lead to double-digits less than four minutes into the half, when they led 29-19. With just over seven minutes left, George Mason led by 12 before GW started on a key scoring run.
Jones started the run with a layup and played a key role down the stretch, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Another score from Jones and 2 points apiece from Autry and redshirt sophomore forward Darren Buchanan Jr. cut the GW deficit to just four and brought the score to 43-39.
Jones said their previous 77-80 loss against the Patriots on Jan. 18, where the Revs fell in double overtime, as well as Wednesday’s loss were preventable.
“Credit to [George] Mason,” Jones said. “They played the game to win and are a really good team, but I feel like both games were really winnable, and I feel like we gave it all in both games.”
After trading free throws the next few minutes, a layup by Jones off a Drumgoole steal with just under three minutes left gave GW their first lead at 48-47. After George Mason responded with one successful free throw, Drumgoole answered back with a score of his own to bring the GW lead to 50-48.
GW would remain scoreless for the last 1:56 of the game, with a shot-clock turnover on the next possession failing to give the Revs the opportunity to extend their lead. A layup from George Mason gave them the lead at 51-50, but a foul on George Mason brought Jones to the line with the opportunity to answer back with 31 seconds left.
Shooting two, Jones missed both opportunities, with the Patriots collecting the rebound in the lead. Free throws have been an issue for the Revs this season, especially in close games. In the team’s last game against George Mason, in mid-January, Castro missed two free throws in a tied affair with just seconds left, sending the game to overtime where GW eventually lost.
After one more free throw from George Mason, GW had the ball back down two with one possession left, where Jones turned the ball over and the team was unable to get a shot off. After one make and one miss from a final trip to the line from the Patriots, Drumgoole missed a deep 3-point heave off the rim.
The Revs will travel to face off against St. Bonaventure on Sunday at noon.
