WASHINGTON (AP) — Patricio Garino scored a career-high 25 points, Kevin Larsen added a career-high 22, Isaiah Armwood had 11 points and 14 rebounds, and George Washington’s resurgent season hit another peak Tuesday night with a 76-66 win over Virginia Commonwealth in the teams’ first meeting as members of the Atlantic 10.
The Colonials shot 56 percent, dominated the paint, and held on after the Rams cut an 11-point deficit to four in the second half. GW (14-3, 2-1) matched VCU’s notoriously torrid pace with stout defense, blocking eight shots and holding the Rams to 37 percent shooting.
Rob Brandenberg scored 17 points to lead the Rams (13-4, 1-1), who had their five-game winning streak snapped. VCU spent the second half staying close but unable to catch up. JeQuan Lewis’ layup made the score 61-57 with 6 minutes remaining, but the Colonials answered with a 15-9 run to close out the game.
