GW's Pressure Eventually Bests Princeton

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Colonials don't score desired 80 points, but garner win.

November 25, 2009 - At times last night, Princeton was able to handle George Washington's full court pressure, reducing a 10 point deficit to 47-42 with slightly less than six minutes to play; the Colonials frequently enjoyed a double digit lead throughout the game to that point.

But as a crack in a dam turns into a flood, so did the pressure exerted on Princeton, who saw GW finish the game with a 16-6 scoring advantage, producing their 65-50 victory before 1,315 fans at its Smith Center home arena.

"You are going to make mistakes" said Princeton's coach, Sydney Johnson of what a team that relentlessly presses produces. Despite the loss, he was pleased his team "stepped up", saying "We were not perfect, but there was some effort".

Lasan Kromah (20), a freshman from E. Roosevelt (MD) is expected, per Karl Hobbs, to provide outside shooting, which he did, going 3-5 from the field, 2-3 from three point land, for nine points.

His GW counterpart, Karl Hobbs, had a slightly different take on his team's pressing, one likely produced the squad's 20 turnovers: "Guys were trying to make plays a little too quick...We don't want to be in a hurry, but we want to be quick".

GW was led by Bryan Bynes (13 points), who was instrumental in the Colonials pulling away down the stretch, hitting back to back three pointers that esentially iced the contest. Three of his teammates, Damian Hollis, Lasan Kromah and Tim Johnson all dropped nine points.

Princeton saw Patrick Saunders tally 12 points on 5-7 shooting, and the trio of Douglas Davis, Marchus Shroeder and Dan Mavraides contribute eight.

Ian Hummer, a Princeton freshman who graduated from Gonzaga (DC), provided five points and three blocks in 21 minutes.

The PAC-10 Conference weighs heavily in both team's immediate futures.

Sunday sees Princeton (2-2) travel west to California-Berkeley. The game is a 2pm (PST) tilt.

GW, now 4-0 hosts that league's Oregon State Saturday, a contest believed to be attended by First Lady Michelle Obama, whose brother Craig, the Beaver's head coach. Action also begins at 2pm (EST)

Both Princeton and Oregon State employ what's known as the 'Princeton Offense', a deliberate philosophy in which passing is featured, in hopes of producing easy baskets, controlling the tempo, and limiting opponents' shot attempts.

Hobbs sees value in GW facing this basketball philosophy early in the season, specifically saying of facing the Tigers "It is a real mental challenge for our guys. Princeton wants to control tempo..play in the 50's. We are trying to play in the 80's. I thought our youth showed".