Vinson’s 21 points help propel Minutemen past GW, 86-75
When George Washington took the floor Saturday night against Massachusetts, there were more players from the Washington area on the roster of the visitors than that of the Colonials.
In 6-foot-9 Raphiael Putney (Woodbridge), 6-8 Maxie Esho (Wise), 6-7 Terrell Vinson (Montrose Christian/St. Frances) and 6-5 Javorn Farrell (Riverdale Baptist), U-Mass has a group of quick, versatile wings who epitomize the Atlantic-10’s tallest and perhaps most athletic team.
The foursome enjoyed their homecoming on Saturday, each making major contributions an 86-75 victory before 3,143 at Smith Center.
While Vinson scored 21 points to lead the Minutemen, Putney (eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks), Farrell (11 points, four assists), and Esho (five points) were disruptive and efficient. The locals combined for seven steals and hit 17 of 26 shots (65.4 percent). All but Farrell had fast-break dunks in the second half to help derail the comeback hopes of GW.
“Normally [players] don’t play worth a crap when they go home,” U-Mass coach Derek Kellogg joked. “It was nice to see some of the guys who are from here play well. We had a nice crowd of U-Mass people.”
Due in no small part to its D.C. connection, which make up half of its eight-man rotation, U-Mass (17-6, 6-3) is a half-game out of first place in the A-10 and on its way to its first winning season in four years under Kellogg.
“I’m really not sure where we fall quite yet in this conference,” Kellogg said. “I told my team that we go into every game with a chance to win. I know that wasn’t always the case the past couple of years.”
GW (8-15, 3-6) led early behind guard Tony Taylor (26 points, five assists) and forward Dwayne Smith (16 points). But when Farrell, a junior, hit a jumper and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions, it gave U-Mass a 17-14 lead that it would not relinquish.
In the second half, U-Mass set the tone early with fast-break dunks by 6-9 center Sean Carter and Putney, a rangy sophomore, who added another sensational slam later in the half off an inbounds lob.
Fueled by a defense which forced 14 turnovers and 43.3 percent shooting by GW, U-Mass turned many of the mistakes and missed shots into easy baskets, demoralizing the Colonials. U-Mass shot 55.4 percent from the floor.
“Tonight was a little disappointing because I don’t think everybody brought a high-level effort,” Lonergan said. “When you don’t have depth you can’t really bench guys.”
Twelve of the 14 players on the U-Mass roster measure 6-foot-5 or taller. The Minutemen were especially effective guarding the perimeter as GW made only 2 of 16 shots from beyond the arc (12.5 percent). Top three-point threat Nemanja Mikic made 1 of 7. Taylor hit 1 of 5.
GW could never sustain a run in the second half. Mikic’s lone three of the night cut the U-Mass lead to 66-60 with 7 minutes left. But Putney answered with a layup and 5-9 point guard Chaz Williams (15 points, five rebounds) added a jumper.
“We just cut corners all the time and it really hurts you against a good team,” Lonergan said.
