By James Irwin
The George Washington University men’s basketball team is getting pretty familiar with the Northeast corridor these days.
The Colonials (26-10) will make their third trip this month up Interstate 95 when they face San Diego State on Tuesday in the semifinal round of the National Invitational Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York. GW defeated Florida 82-77 in the NIT quarterfinals Wednesday night.
GW played two games in the Atlantic 10 tournament March 10 and 11 in Brooklyn and defeated Monmouth in the NIT a week ago in West Long Branch, N.J. The Colonials have won three games in a row since an 86-80 loss to St. Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
“We regrouped, and now we’re playing for a championship,” said Tyler Cavanaugh, who led GW with 23 points in the win over Florida. “I’m excited to go to Madison Square Garden—I’ve never played there. There are going to be some really good teams.”
A win over San Diego State would be the 27th of the season for GW, tying the 2005-06 team for the most wins in school history.
The Colonials and Aztecs play at 9 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN. Valparaiso and Brigham Young will play in the other semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday, also on ESPN. The winners advance to Thursday’s NIT championship game.
Tickets to the GW/San Diego State game can be purchased online at GetGWTix.com or by calling 202-994-9849. Student tickets are $10. Young Alumni Tickets (Class of 2006 and younger, limit two per person) also are $10. Adult admission tickets, either behind or across from the GW bench, are available for $50. GW is providing buses to the game for students and fans. Both leave the Charles E. Smith Center at 1 p.m. Tuesday and return to campus after the game. Details for both buses are available at GetGWTix.com.
GW also will host a pregame alumni event at the Club Bar and Grill inside Madison Square Garden.