Posted 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 – Once again, an opponent’s scoring run burnt GW as the visiting Colonials fell 89-75 Thursday night to Xavier.

Xavier started the second half with a 13-4 run to expand a halftime lead to 15. GW cut the lead to seven midway through the second half, but again Xavier (18-4 overall, 10-1 A-10) opened the lead to 15 with a 16-8 run.

GW (10-13 overall, 3-9 Atlantic 10), the underdog going into the game, successfully slowed down Xavier big man David West (11 points, 9 rebounds) but could not stop Romain Sato. Sato scored a career-high 34 points on 11-for-17 shooting for the Musketeers.

It was the second time this season Sato led the Musketeers over the Colonials. Sato scored a team-high 23 points in Xavier’s 71-63 defeat of GW last month at the Smith Center.

All five Musketeers starters scored in double figures, with David Young adding 16 points.

The Colonials had five players score in double-figures as well, with freshman point guard T.J. Thompson scoring a team-high 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Thompson scored 14 of his 17 in the first half. Senior Jaason Smith added 15 and grabbed six rebounds. GW’s leading scorer, Chris Monroe, finished with 14.

GW stayed close to Xavier throughout the first half. Thompson hit a three-pointer with just over six minutes remaining in the first half to tie the game at 29. Xavier answered right of way and took a six-point lead into the locker room, 41-35.

The Colonials look to end their eight-game losing streak Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh against Duquesne (8-15 overall, 3-9 A-10).