GW Ends Perfect Conference Schedule With A Bang
DCist certainly picked the right time to catch a GW game at the Charles Smith Center. A few weeks back we picked up one of the last two pairs of tickets available for Saturday's game, the last home appearance for GW's stellar senior class. There was alot at stake on Saturday for GW. The chance to end their conference slate with a perfect record along with yet another chance to quiet the critics that say they are overrated.
GW built a double digit lead in the first half before allowing the 49ers to pull ahead late in the second half. The two teams were nip and tuck coming down to the end of regulation. GW's winning streak seemed to be over until Maureece Rice hit a desperation three pointer with 6.5 seconds left to send the game into OT.
GW took a three point lead in the first in OT but seemed lost over the next few minutes and when De'Angelo Alexander grabbed a Rice miss with a few seconds left, it looked like GW's day was done. But all was not lost. Mike Hall fouled Alexander as he gained possession of the ball but also got tangled up with Charlotte's Leemire Goldwire, with Goldwire throwing a few roundhouse elbows to clear himself some space. The referees, after a long deliberation, charged Goldwire with a technical, giving GW two shots and the ball after Alexander's free throws, of which he hit one of two, setting the stage for an improbable finish.
All photos taken by leafblower and used with permission
Senior forward Mike Hall stepped to the line and buried both free throws from the technical, cutting Charlotte's lead to one. And on the ensuing inbounds, Carl Elliott gathered freshman Noel Wilmore's errant three point attempt and laid the ball in as time expired to give GW the win and extend the nation's longest win streak. As you can imagine pandemonium ensued. Despite no fewer than six PA announcements not to rush the floor after the game, the crowd in the student section flowed from the stands on to the floor to chase Hall around the court. Soon the students covered the playing court and the team jumped on top of the scorer's table to hold court and bask in the moment.
"This has to rank up there as the number one game since I've been coaching," GW coach Karl Hobbs told the press after the game. "For it to end in such a dramatic fashion, and for it to end on these guys' Senior Day, you couldn't ask for a better way to close it out."
You can see the full Flickr photoset here. As always, the Colonial Hoops Blog has more on the game.