Cavanaugh scores 18; No. 21 GW beats St Peter's 87-74
WASHINGTON (AP) Tyler Cavanaugh scored 18 points and No. 21 George Washington finished its home nonconference schedule unbeaten with an 87-74 victory over Saint Peter's on Saturday.
Kevin Larsen added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Colonials, who are ranked for the first time since the end of the 2005-06 season.
Patricio Garino scored 16 points and Paul Jorgensen had 12 for George Washington (10-1), which shot 55 percent (32 of 58) and outrebounded Saint Peter's 34-24.
Trevis Wyche scored a career-high 26 points and Antwon Portley added 21 for Saint Peter's (3-6), which trailed by as many as 23 points in the first half before closing within 11 late.
George Washington finished 8-0 at home against nonconference opponents, and will play twice on the road before beginning its Atlantic 10 schedule at home against Fordham.
Cavanaugh continued to be the Colonials' primary scoring option Saturday, scoring at least 15 points for the eighth time this season.
Garino and Larsen both emerged from offensive slumps. Garino had scored in double figures in GW's first seven games before going his past three games without hitting the 10-point mark. Larsen reached double figures for the first time in five games.
Larsen scored six points during a 13-0 run that helped the Colonials take a 33-13 first-half lead, and GW entered halftime up 46-29.
Jorgensen's 3-pointer in the second half made it 79-55 before Saint Peter's answered with a 13-0 run. But Alex Mitola hit a pair of free throws before Jorgensen hit a runner and then a 3-pointer to stretch it to 86-70.
TIP-INS
George Washington: The Colonials scored 46 first-half points for a second consecutive game. They led Rutgers 46-24 at halftime last Saturday. ... Mitola's eight points were his most since transferring to GW for his senior season.
Saint Peter's: The Peacocks played their first game in Washington since the 1995-1996 season . Saint Peter's fell to 34-85 against Atlantic 10 opponents. . Freshman F Mamadou Ndiaye left the game with a leg injury.
UP NEXT:
George Washington: At DePaul on Tuesday.
Saint Peter's: Home against Saint Francis Brooklyn on Wednesday
