The week that was in Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
By PAUL GOTHAM
Patricio Garino hit 7-of-8 from the floor and netted 18 as George Washington toppled then No. 6 Virginia. Garino matched his output as the Colonials improved to 3-0 on the weekend with triumphs over South Florida and Army. Jaire Grayer posted 16 a game over four contests for George Mason including a career-high 23 in George Mason’s overtime defeat of Oklahoma State. Read the complete article including the weekly honor roll here.
Speaking of Mason
The Patriots season-opening loss to Colgate seems a lifetime away. This after Mason took down a pair of Power 5 schools in the previously mentioned OSU, 71-68 and Ole Miss, 68-62. The wins set up a date with Virginia in the finals of Charleston Classic and special attention paid to Patriot big man Shevon Thompson. The 6-11 center received a double down in low post with every post entry. Thompson finished below average, but was one of five Patriots in double figures against the nation’s most suffocating defense. Thompson hit 3-of-5 from the field including an aggressive second-half take where he split a double team for a bucket. Thompson and GM might not see a tougher defense all season (UVA led the nation last season limiting opponents to 51.5 ppg).
Double dose of A-10 for the Wahoos
Tony Bennett‘s Cavaliers came into Sunday’s game wary of the Atlantic 10 after falling to Garino and GW earlier. Garino was one of four Colonials to tally double figures in the win over UVA. The Cavs held opponents under 37 percent from the floor last year. G-Dub hit 23-of-51 (45.1 percent) from the floor. Along with Garino, Tyler Cavanaugh accounted for 18. Remember that name. Cavanaugh, a Wake Forest transfer, gives Mike Lonergan’s Colonials an inside-outside threat.
Rising on the Bluff
Jim Ferry’s Duquesne Dukes re-wrote the program record book with a 78-52 win over the Big Ten’s Penn State Nittany Lions. The 26-point margin of victory was the largest for the Dukes in the 47-game history of the series. Derrick Colter led a long-range attack which connected for 17 3-pointers – the most in a regulation game in the history of Duquesne program. Duquesne closed the first half on an 11-0 run and never trailed in the second half. With the win, the Dukes started the season 3-0 – the best under Ferry. The Dukes could not win more than two straight last year. DU will look to start another run after falling to Pepperdine Monday afternoon.
Video courtesy of Duquesne athletics.
Speaking of beatdowns…
What Dayton did Alabama made Duquesne’s effort look tame. The Flyers turned the Crimson Tide blue with an 80-48 take-out-to-the-shed type of victory. Not sure it was even that close. UD’s Charles Cooke led all scorers with 21. The Flyers outscored their counterparts 32-18 in the paint. UD also converted 20 ‘Bama turnovers into 16 points. Scoochie Smith had a no-so-quiet day accounting for 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting including 3-of-6 behind the arc to go with three assists, four steals and just one turnover.
Video courtesy of Dayton Athletics.
Spiders get in the mix
Trey Davis netted a career-high 17 as UR added to the A-10’s list of victories over Power 5 schools with a 91-82 road victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Read the rest of the article here.
Video
Video courtesy of Richmond Athletics.
Bonnies take care of business
Video courtesy of St. Bonaventure athletics.
Upcoming:
Dayton opens the Advocare Invitational against Iowa – a battle of teams both receiving votes in weekly polls. UMass looks to make it 4-0 when they meet Clemson in Sin City at the MGM Grand Main Event. Rhode Island opens the Cancun Challenge against TCU. Hopefully, the Rams won’t need a left-handed 3-point attempt from Four McGlynn at the buzzer (McGlynn is right-handed). Bona meets Canisius for the 164th time. Fordham takes on Manhattan in the Battle of the Bronx. Richmond does battle with West Virginia in the Las Vegas Invitational. La Salle takes on Penn in Philly Big 5 action. GW meets Tennessee in the Barclays Center Classic. Saint Louis and Louisville will tip off in Brooklyn. VCU continues its rivalry with Old Dominion, and
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