By Nick Lolis
The George Washington Revolutionaries lost to the Fordham Rams 79-65 on Saturday for the first time since 2024.
After being defeated by a strong Saint Louis side in heartbreaking fashion, the Revs returned home with the goal of improving their Atlantic 10 record to 5-4. But with center Rafael Castro out due to a foot injury, they had no such luck. Fordham’s defense grabbed 46 rebounds to GW’s 28. The Revs now sit at 4-5 in the A-10 Conference, with an overall record of 13-9.
Photo by GW Athletics
The absence of Castro had a profound effect on the team, as he tallied his seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-best 18 rebounds in GW’s last game against Saint Louis. However, Castro was walking normally on the bench and his injury wasn’t obvious.
“You play a team who’s a great offensive rebounding team, but then you lose the best defensive rebounder in the league,” George Washington Head Coach Chris Caputo said. “And then you can’t really engage in even any short spurts of blocking out physically Thursday [and] Friday to sort of prepare yourself.”
By the first half, Fordham was winning 34-31, powered by high maneuverability in Fordham’s offense, leading to the exploitation of defensive holes. Fordham saw guard DeJour Reaves score 19 points, while center Christian Henry had 15 points. Three GW players scored double digits in the game. Christian Jones had 13, and Tyron Marshall and Garrett Johnson each had 11.
The second half began with Fordham increasing the deficit to nine points before five minutes had elapsed. As time went on, GW players fell into foul trouble, putting Fordham in the bonus for an extended period down the stretch.
Fordham’s array of international students greatly aided their victory, with Rikus Schulte from Germany getting ten rebounds, and Jack Whitbourn from Australia posting ten points.
GW’s energy was fluctuating throughout the second half. Coach Caputo was seen attempting to hype them up on the bench.
“We made that big shot to end the half, we came out, we had three great threes to start the second half. We don’t make them. I think that has an effect on them. It shouldn’t but it does. You know, we’ve got to change that,” Caputo said.
The Revs are set to play against Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia on Wednesday, February 4th.
