For the second time this season, Ohio University has handed George Washington an NIT defeat.
The Bobcats (24-9) beat GW 83-71 Thursday night in the first round of the NIT. Ohio defeated the Colonials (18-14) 82-76 in the preseason NIT semifinals, then beat New Mexico State for the championship.The Bobcats are trying to become the first team to win both the preseason and postseason NIT championships in the same season.
Gary Trent had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Geno Ford added 23 points to lead Ohio. Ford scored 18 in the first half, including 10 straight, capped by a four-point play with 3:19 left to give the Bobcats a 34-26 lead.
Ohio coach Larry Hunter praised the performance of Ford, who hit all four of his team's 3-pointers.
"He had a terrific game and did a good job of getting involved in our offense, especially in the first half," Hunter said. "We even ran plays to get him open, which we usually do not do."
The Bobcats will face Iowa in a second-round game on Monday or Tuesday at a site to be announced. The Hawkeyes beat DePaul 96-87 on Wednesday in another first-round contest. Ohio lost at Iowa 91-75 on Dec. 3.
Ohio led 41-35 at halftime. The visiting Colonials (18-14) got within four points twice in the second half, the last time on Billy Calloway's layup with 8:04 remaining to make it 64-60.
But consecutive baskets by Trent, Ford, Ed Sears and Curtis Simmons gave the Bobcats a 72-60 advantage with 4:49 left. George Washington got no closer.
"Our gnats did a good job out here tonight," Hunter said. "We give up a lot in height and weight to them but we still outrebounded them (45-38), and I thought that was a big key."
The Colonials defeated several NCAA tournament entrants during an up-and-down season, including Massachusetts twice, Syracuse and Memphis.
Providence 72, Charleston 67
At Providence, R.I., Austin Croshere tied a career-high with 28 points as Providence beat the College of Charleston, snapping the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games.
Providence (17-12) built a 13-point second-half lead, then had to withstand a furious comeback during which the Cougars (23-6) got to 70-67 with 13 seconds left.
Marion Busby led Charleston with 28 points.
St. Bonaventure 75, S. Miss. 70
At Olean, N.Y., Nii Nelson-Richards scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half, leading St. Bonaventure to its first postseason victory in 18 years. They play Marquette on Monday at a site to be determined.
Southern Miss (17-13) got 20 points from Damien Smith.
South Florida 74, St. John's 67
At Tampa, Fla., Brian Lamb scored 11 of his career-high 14 points in the first half and played well defensively for South Florida.
Heralded freshman Felipe Lopez only got off seven shots the whole game and finished with 11 points for St. John's (14-14).
Nebraska 69, Georgia 61
At Lincoln, Neb., Erick Strickland had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Nebraska.
Nebraska trailed until Mikki Moore's dunk put the Huskers ahead 62-60 with 1:59 remaining. Less than 25 seconds later, Jaron Boone drove the baseline and fed Moore for another dunk.
Bradley 86, E. Michigan 85 (2OT)
At Peoria, Ill., Deon Jackson sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining to give Bradley the double-overtime victory.