Area college basketball: Obama at GW; Hoyas roll

Brother-in-law Craig Robinson is the Oregon State coach, and the president brought along first lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and mother-in-law Marian Robinson.

The coach said he enjoyed having his family at the game.

“He’s a huge basketball fan,” Robinson said of the president. “He pays close attention and he’s always followed us.”

Oregon State (2-3) led 14-0 before George Washington realized the game had started, but the Colonials (4-1) managed to narrow the deficit to 10 with a run late in the first half.

The first Pac-10 team to play in the Smith Center kept up its fast-paced offense, though, and the Beavers held on in the second half.

Obama received a basketball signed by George Washington players and coaches, along with a jersey and shorts. Coach Karl Hobbs thanked Obama and his family for attending the game.

“Students, this is why you come to GW,” Hobbs said.

Lasan Kromah scored 21 points to lead George Washington.

Clark’s 19 leads Hoyas over Lafayette, 97-64


For the first time in John Thompson III’s six seasons as coach, Georgetown had six players in double figures on Saturday.

The Hoyas’ hard-to-please coach still needs convincing they’re ready for bigger challenges.

After No. 18 Georgetown defeated Lafayette 97-64, Thompson spent an especially long time poring over the stat sheet. He had plenty to read about.

Jason Clark had a career-high 19 points, Hollis Thompson had 16 and Chris Wright added 14 for the Hoyas (4-0). Greg Monroe had 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Austin Freeman scored 12 and Julian Vaughn finished with 11 points.

“I don’t go into a game saying: ‘We need four, five, six guys in double figures,'” Thompson said. “We have a bunch of guys in that locker room that can score points. Who scores the points is irrelevant to this group.”

Lafayette coach Fran O’Hanlon’s team hadn’t faced a ranked team since February 2006, and his team doesn’t regularly face one with the array of skills that Monroe and his teammates have.

“In my mind, they’re a top-20 team. Are they a top-10 team? That’s to be decided,” O’Hanlon said. “Any time you have a guy like Monroe, you always have a chance.”

The Leopards (4-2) were led by Jared Mintz’ 16 points. Jim Mower had 12.

Tulane defeats George Mason, 76-71

NEW ORLEANS — Kevin Sims scored 22 points and Tulane defeated George Mason 76-71 on Saturday.

The Green Wave (2-3) trailed 40-34 with 18:17 left in the game before going on a 10-2 run. Asim McQueen gave Tulane a 44-42 lead on a jump shot with 15:32 left to play.

The Patriots (3-3) tied the game at 64-64, but the Green Wave pulled away in the final 2:26.

Tulane led 74-71 with 15.4 seconds remaining and George Mason’s Cam Long missed a 3-pointer. Sims then hit two free throws with 7 seconds left to seal the win.

McQueen had 16 points and four steals and Aaron Holmes added 10 for the Green Wave, who scored 20 points off of 20 Patriots’ turnovers.

The Green Wave held George Mason to 36.7 percent shooting in the second half (11 of 30), after allowing 55.6 percent (15 of 27) in the first.

Long scored a career-high 24 points for the Patriots and Luke Hancock added 14.

Goode lifts Mount St. Mary’s over Navy, 65-56, in OT

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Jeremy Goode scored 18 points and Jean Cajou 16, and they scored the first six points of overtime as Mount St. Mary’s edged Navy 65-56 on Saturday night.

Goode made 1 of 2 free throws 14 seconds into overtime and added two at the 3:26 mark to put the Mountaineers (3-2) ahead 57-54. Cajou’s 3-pointer with 2:38 left made it 60-54.

The Midshipmen (2-4), who shot 0-for-6 in overtime, never led and got their only tie with 22 seconds left in regulation when Cajou fouled Romeo Garcia, who made both free throws.

Virginia Tech defeats Delaware in OT, 74-66

PHILADELPHIA — Malcolm Delaney scored 24 points, including the first five points of overtime to lead Virginia Tech past Delaware 74-66 on Saturday night.

The preseason All-ACC guard opened the extra period with two free throws and a 3-pointer to put the Hokies (4-1) up for good 68-63.

Delaware’s Edwin Santiago missed a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining allowing Virginia Tech to seal the game.

Terrell Bell and Delaney each hit free throws and JT Thompson added a layup to finish the Hokies’ scoring.

Virginia Tech’s Jeff Allen chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds in the Philly Hoop Group contest.

Jawan Carter led the Blue Hens (1-4) with 23 points, including a layup with 18 seconds left in regulation to tie the game 63-63 and send it into overtime.

Burns leads Md.-Eastern Shore over American 65-58

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Tim Burns and Neal Pitt scored 16 points each to pace Maryland-Eastern Shore to a 65-58 victory over American University on Saturday.

Burns scored six points during a 15-4 run at the end of the first half that lifted the Hawks (1-5) from a 21-17 deficit to a 32-25 lead.

Maryland-Eastern Shore scored the first five second-half points to take its largest lead, 37-25, with 18:52 to play.

American (0-7) fought back, led by Stephen Lumpkins, who paced the Eagles with 15 points. His free throw gave them a 46-45 lead with 8:57 left and his layup put American ahead 48-45 with 7:43 to play.

Sean Berry put Maryland-Eastern Shore back in the lead, 49-48, with a putback off a missed jumper and his three-point play put the Hawks in front 52-49.

American got within two, 60-58, on Nick Hendra’s 3-pointer with 1:55 left, but the Hawks scored the final five points.