After a grueling first half and a red bull like induced second half, the Colonials just looked gassed in overtime.
"That definitely was a factor,” said GW Head Coach Karl Hobbs. “We obviously expended a great deal of energy to put ourselves in position to win the game at the end. We had one costly turnover that led to an easy basket by them, and it was an uphill battle from that point on.”
All credit to the Hawks however, they were very much on point to start the game and took it to the Colonials from the tip.
By overtime, St. Joe’s only needed three minutes to build a 12-point lead, obviously on a 12-0 run. With the records thrown out at the start of the tournament and the score thrown out at the start of the overtime, St. Joe’s players played like they got a second chance at life while, GW played like they had a long and full one.
The credit here goes to these players, said St. Joe’s Head Coach Phil Martelli. “I gave them the coaching cliché after Saturday—now, everybody is 0-0. Let's see what we can do. We played a little bit not to lose, not as free and easy. The overtime steal by Tai Jones kind of relieved everybody, and we made our free throws on the road, which is what you need to do to spring what some people would call an upset."
St. Joe’s 3-2 zone just stifled the GW offense in the first half. On the rare occasion GW did manage to squeeze it into the paint between the outstretched arms of the St. Joseph’s players, they missed on easy opportunities and plays that would usually end in rallying layups, floundered in disappointing nothingness.
To make matters worse, GW couldn’t extend its pressure in the half court set without fouling, causing the defense to lag at points, which opened up passing lanes, and driving lanes into the paint. St. Joe’s was able to take advantage, going up by as much as 11 and closing the first half 31-20.
The Colonials were outshot and out-rebounded (15-11) in the first half, and in the paint—dominated. St. Joe’s put up 18 points in the paint in the first half while holding the Colonials to miss, after blocked shot, after turnover in the paint, to the tune of eight points.
GW tried to open the second half, imposing its will as it got the ball down low to senior Joseph Katuka who converted on the first shot to bring the lead to within single digits 22-31.
The Colonials and Hawks met previously in the regular season on January 8, with GW getting a 78-71 win. But Colonial nation quickly found out that this wasn’t the same (9-21, 4-12 A-10) 12-seed in the A-10 tournament type of effort GW got in the first matchup. Not that the Hawks didn’t play hard in the regular season, but Tuesday they executed. When GW made pushes midway through the second half, St. Joe’s had an answer at the other end.
GW kept plugging away despite being out-executed most of the game. With 5:45 left, Tony Taylor (game high 22 points, eight in OT) hit a jumper he thought he should have been fouled on and just like other points in the game, St. Joe’s had an answer at thier end of the court with a Carl Jones layup (12 points, six rebounds). But on the ensuing GW possession, the Hawks’ lost GW’s deadliest 3-point shooter, Nemanja Mikic and the freshman did what he’s done throughout his first season—take and make the three. The shot popped out, hit the backboard, rolled around a bit before going in. With the Mikic make, GW was only down five with four minutes left to play. Two Taylor free throws 10 seconds later made the score 45-47 St. Joe’s.
As if it wasn’t already, the game was coming down to the wire. The Colonial’s, who have been without their leading scorer from last season all of this season, haven’t lacked a leader and Taylor made that evident again Tuesday against St. Joe’s, taking the big shots when no one else seemed willing. Taylor’s last points kept GW within two of the lead. His free throws with 59 seconds left in the game erased it.
Culminating a 20-6 run that saw the score now tied 49-49 with under a minute left, the “wire” was clearly visible.
The players, even more than the fans (and although they may not believe it), were feeling the pressure as both teams’ final cracks at a win—St. Joe’s settled for a ridiculous shot and the Colonial’s attempts at the other end—fell on the wrong side of the rim.
"I think the whole team was fatigued by that point,” said Hobbs. “We exerted so much energy. We put the ball in Tony's hands and he did a great job, making some good plays to put us in position to win the game."
The game went into overtime where St. Joe’s won the tip and never looked back; except to make history becoming the first 12 seed to beat a 5 seed in the A-10 tournament.
GW ended the game shooting just 35% from the field 26% in OT. St. Joe’s on the other end shot a remarkable 52% for the game and a whopping 20 free throws in overtime alone as GW tried to extend the game as long as possible. But the effort to do so was fruitless.
"I was just disappointed that we had to let them shoot free-throws, said Taylor. “It got to the point where he had to foul, and that whole segment was just disappointing.”
Coach Hobbs told his team after the game to remember what had happened Tuesday night at Smith Center. Coach feels that his team must remember, “Just the emotion of the game itself, and know what it feels like to lose this kind of ballgame."
The players don’t need to be told this, a loss like this will stick with them for a while, hopefully it’ll be what gets them over the hump—never wanting to feel the pain and embarrassment from a loss like this can drive teams to amazing runs.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment