Box Score WASHINGTON, D.C. – No. 21 George Washington downed Saint Peter's 87-74 in non-conference men's basketball action on Saturday.
Playing their first ranked opponent since playing Purdue in the NCAA Tournament in 2010-11, Trevis Wyche (Neptune, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) paced the Peacocks (3-6) with a career-high 26 points. The junior was 10-for-14 from the floor, 4 of 5 from behind the arc and 2 of 4 from the free throw line to come the third Saint Peter's player this season to score 20 points in a game. Wyche also had four assists, two steals and three rebounds.
Antwon Portley (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster) added 21 points for the Peacocks. The duo guard combined for 47 points and marked the second time this season the Jersey City team has had two players register 20 points in a single game.
Tyler Cavanaugh paced the Colonials (10-1) with 18 points while Patricio Garino (16 points) and Kevin Laresen (11 points and 11 rebounds) each found double figures in the winning effort.
George Washington took the lead from the opening tip and never looked back to earn the win in the first meeting against Saint Peter's since the 1994-95 season and to give the Colonials a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The Colonials started the game with the first nine points thanks to a layup by Garino at 19:46, a trey by Yuta Watanabe at 18:04, a second basket in the paint by Garino (17:43) and a jumper by Joe McDonald (16:54).
The Peacocks answered with five unanswered points on a driving layup by Portley at 16:42 and a traditional 3-point play by Welton at 16:03 to cut the margin to 9-5.
George Washington then went on a 28-11 run to extend the lead to 37-16 with 5:01 left in the first half. Cavanaugh powered the run with 11 points.
Saint Peter's scored the next five points on a Rodney Hawkins' (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton) layup at 4:01 and a triple by Portley with 3:30 left to trim the margin to 37-21, but Cavanaugh halted the momentum with a basket to help the Colonials go into the locker room with a 46-29 advantage.
Wyche (11 points) and Portley (nine points) combined for 20 of the Peacocks 29 first-half points.
The second half was a competitive one with Saint Peter's outscoring George Washington 45-41, but the Peacocks could not make up enough ground with the Colonials coming away with the 87-74 win.
Quadir Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Math, Civics and Science Charter) added nine points and seven rebounds.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Wednesday when they host St. Francis Brooklyn. Tip off is set for 4 p.m.
