GW guard Maurice Creek's game winning jumper sent a message locally and nationally that the Colonials were indeed back
It was the "shot" heard throughout DMV basketball circles. With 8 seconds left and the game tied at 75, GW guard and Maryland native Maurice Creek took the ball and hit a step back jumper over Maryland's Nick Faust to give the Colonial's a 77-75 win over the Terp's. The shot by Creek had more significance than just winning the game, that shot sent a strong message that not only was George Washington men's basketball back strong, it was here to stay. The win came in the 2013 BB&T Classic and sparked a memorable season for the Colonial's in which they finished with a 24-8 (11-5 in the A-10) record, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007 before bowing out in the second round to Memphis. Since then, GW has followed up with a 22-13 record during the 14-15 season and a 27-10 campaign this season, sitting tied for the most single season wins in school history, which they can break with a win in tonight's N.I.T Championship game. Sure the hiring of Mike Lonergan and his staff, the 2012 recruiting class of Joe McDonald, Patricio Garino and Kevin Larsen and a couple of high major transfers in Mo Creek (Indiana), Isaiah Armwood (Villanova) and Tyler Cavanaugh (Wake Forest) is the foundation and main reasons in the resurgence behind the scenes, but this shot let everyone know that something special was being built in the Smith Center. Now, in tonight's National Invitation Tournament Championship game against Valparaiso, being aired tonight on ESPN at 7pm, GW now has a chance to win the Colonial's first postseason basketball championship, cementing the Lonergan era as arguably the most successful period in their basketball history. Down the road, when they talk about this great era of GW basketball, this shot will and should be at the forefront.
Highlights of George Washington's win over Maryland in the 2013 BB&T Classic