George Washington coach Karl Hobbs hopes the Colonials’ weekend sweep of ranked teams is a beginning rather than a two-day aberration.
T.J. Thompson scored 27 points and George Washington upset No. 12 Maryland 101-92 on Sunday in the championship game of the BB&T Classic at Washington, D.C.
“The measuring stick for this team will be at the end of the [season]. … We took a step further to our goal,” Hobbs said after George Washington’s fifth straight victory. “That’s what we’re focusing on.”
J.R. Pinnock added 22 points and Omar Williams scored 11 of his 14 in the second half for the Colonials (5-1), who beat No. 11 Michigan State 96-83 in the semifinals.
George Washington’s only loss was the season opener at top-ranked Wake Forest in the Preseason NIT.
“Even though we lost, we took it as a learning experience,” Thompson said of the game against the Demon Deacons. “We got under control and learned to play together.”
John Gilchrist led Maryland (4-2) with 23 points, while Nik Caner-Medley had 16 and James Gist and Travis Garrison each added 12.
Maryland, which made only 14 of 28 free throws, has lost two of three. And the Terrapins had to rely too heavily on their long-range game, where they connected on only 6 of 23 three-pointers.
Hurting Wolverines
Michigan guard-forward Lester Abram will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, while forward-center Graham Brown will miss four to six weeks following hernia surgery. Abram, a 6-foot-6-inch junior, was the Wolverines’ co-MVP and leading scorer last season, while Brown, a 6-9 junior, was a team captain.
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Georgia 68 at #4 Ga. Tech 99
B.J. Elder scored 19 points, Jarrett Jack added 18 and Yellow Jackets (5-0) romped to another easy victory by opening 2nd half with 12-0 run vs. Bulldogs (1-3).
#11 Michigan St. 66 vs. G. Mason 60
Maurice Ager scored 13 points as Spartans (4-2) escaped in BB&T Classic consolation game. Alan Anderson and Paul Davis each added 12 points for MSU, which ended 2-game skid.
E. Wash. 56 at #14 Wash. 89
Nate Robinson had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, leading Huskies (5-1) over Eagles (2-3). Tre Simmons was 8-for-13 from field and scored 20 points for Washington.
#15 Miss. St. 64 vs. #21 Arizona 68
Channing Frye had 18 points and 16 rebounds and Wildcats (5-2) beat Bulldogs (6-2) despite being held scoreless for more than 6 minutes down stretch in Wooden Classic opener.
Manhattan 60 at #16 N.C. State 76
Julius Hodge bounced back from brief benching to finish with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and Jordan Collins and Ilian Evtimov had 13 points each for Wolfpack (6-0).
