GW Men’s Basketball Drops Second Game in a Row 69-64 to Crosstown Rival, American University

By Theodora Greco

Men’s basketball played one of their biggest rivalry games of the season on Saturday afternoon.

The energy was high in the Smith Center as GW took on American University. Both GW students and American fans turned out to support. George’s Army came alive with chants multiple times throughout the game. Coach Caputo commended them afterward, saying, “Great crowd. I love playing games like that.”

One of the strangest highlights came in the 1st half when a dog ran onto the court and scared GW player Ricky Lindo Jr. A clip of the encounter made it to ESPN and Sportscenter. When asked if a similar incident had ever occurred during one of his games, Coach Caputo replied, “Absolutely not. Definitely a first.” 

Unfortunately, the dog did not take away from the game’s disappointing ending. American bested the Buff and Blue 69-64. The team started strong with a small lead at the beginning of the first half; however that quickly disappeared as the Eagles took charge. The first half ended with American ahead 30-24. 

GW was plagued by lackluster defense and inconsistent offense throughout the first half. There were multiple three-pointers missed across the board. GW’s three-point field goal percentage was a measly 8% at the half. After the break, the team bounced back with some big buckets from Lindo Jr., but American still led. The game came down to the wire after some late steals energized the Buff and Blue. However, with a mixture of late fouls and solid offense by the Eagles, American maintained the lead until the end of the game.

With such a high-stakes game, the American fans in attendance were excited about their win. Some fans made their feelings known directly to the GW players after the game. Lindo Jr. was held back at one point by a coach before walking off the court. Later, when asked about the exchange, he replied, “It’s basketball…it’s a competitive game.” 

Overall, GW made every effort against a tough opponent. Exhaustion was clear on the faces of multiple players after the game. 

The team will have to rebound as they play Coppin State on Tuesday at the Smith Center. A win against 4-7 Coppin State could give GW some confidence back after losing two games in a row.