GAME NOTES: Coming off a huge upset win on Christmas Day, the George Washington aim to finish off their non-conference schedule in style as they host the Keydets of Virginia Military at the Smith Center.

George Washington, which is a perfect 4-0 on neutral floors, took down both Ohio and Colorado in the first two games of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu last week, and then capped off the trip with a 60-54 triumph over ranked Wichita State. The Colonials, who begin Atlantic 10 Conference play versus Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia this weekend, have now won six of their last seven contests.

Meanwhile, the Keydets have dropped three of their last four outings and are already 1-1 in Southern Conference action. The team's most recent game took place eight days ago when it suffered an 87-74 loss at Virginia Tech, the first of three straight games on the road for VMI.

The Colonials lead the all-time series by a count of 43-16, and are riding a seven-game win streak after beating VMI at the Smith Center two years ago, 76-67. The Keydets have not defeated GW since 1969.

Against the Hokies, VMI had very little luck attacking from 3-point range, the team's typical goal, as the Keydets converted just 10-of-39 out on the perimeter. In the first half the visitors made only 2-of-17 from distance, leaving them in a 24-point hole, although they did close the gap in the second half before coming up short.

Tim Marshall, who hit on 5-of-13 behind the 3-point line, finished with 18 points for the Keydets, followed by QJ Peterson and Brian Brown with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Peterson, who also pulled down eight rebounds, was just 4-of-18 from the field and missed all six chances on the outside. The team as a whole shot only 32.9 percent from the field, the worst effort of the season.

VMI, which has shot under 38.0 percent from the field in three of the last four contests, is led by Peterson with his 20.8 ppg. Peterson, who is also tops with 49 assists and is second with 5.0 rpg, has been a steady visitor to the free-throw line where he has made more shots (55-of-67) than any one of his teammates has yet to attempt, but still the Keydets live and die from long range where they are averaging about 20.5 3-point tries per contest. They lead the nation with 12.7 treys per outing.

In a game that featured three ties and 10 lead changes, the George Washington defense turned up the pressure on the Shockers, allowing the 11th-ranked team in the nation to shoot only 34.4 percent from the floor. In addition, the Colonials committed only eight personal fouls, leading to a mere 1-of-2 accuracy at the free-throw line for the Shockers.

Kethan Savage scored 12 points, Kevin Larsen and Yuta Watanabe 10 points apiece as the team survived 15 turnovers by hitting not only 51.1 percent from the field but also 9-of-15 (.600) beyond the arc for the perfect Christmas present.

He was held to single digits by Wichita State, but still the leading scorer for the Colonials overall is Patricio Garino with 13.3 ppg. Garino, who paces the program with 30 steals and is responsible for 4.7 rpg, does have some areas in need of improvement, namely his shooting beyond the arc (3-of-19) and his penchant for turning the ball over (31). Savage is responsible for another 12.0 ppg and Larsen 11.2 ppg and 7.5 rpg, the latter helping give the group a 5.0 rpg advantage over the competition.

Opponents have shot only 29.2 percent from 3-point range against George Washington, a stat the Keydets will challenge almost every time down the floor on Tuesday. Chances are VMI will lose that battle, resulting in another win for the Colonials.