Alex Mitola hit a running jumper in the closing seconds to lift the George Washington University men's basketball team to an 82-80 victory Wednesday night over Hofstra in the first post-season National Invitation Tournament game ever played at the Charles E. Smith Center.
Up Next
GW vs. Monmouth
When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: Multipurpose Activity Center, West Long Branch, New Jersey
TV: ESPN
The Colonials (24-10) advance to the second round of the NIT for the second consecutive year. GW will face Monmouth in New Jersey on Monday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Four Colonials scored in double figures Wednesday, led by Tyler Cavanaugh's 20 points and 11 rebounds. Patricio Garino scored 18 points and Yuta Watanabe added 15 for GW.
The Colonials led 49-38 at halftime. But Hofstra (24-10) rallied in the closing minutes, and a 9-0 run for the Pride late in the second half tied the game at 80 and set the stage for Mr. Mitola's heroics. His runner in the lane with three seconds remaining in regulation was just his second field goal of the night.
The buzzer-beating end was fitting for a contest that saw five ties and five lead changes. Hofstra was led by Juan'ya Green's game-high 26 points and 10 assists. Rokas Gustys added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Pride.