George Washington Turns Tables, 88-85

George Washington made an 18-point deficit go away in less than five minutes and then made North Carolina Wilmington go away too.

The Colonials, seeded eighth in the Atlanta Regional, pressed and pressured and shot their way to an 88-85 overtime win over the ninth-seeded Seahawks on Thursday in an NCAA first-round game at the Greensboro Coliseum.

With 11 minutes 11 seconds left in the second half, George Washington trailed Wilmington, 64-46, with its defense crumbling under a barrage of NBA-range three-point shots that kept going in, and with its offense meandering around the outskirts of the lane without much purpose.

But in a matter of 4:46 the Colonials (27-2) went ahead 65-64. The 19-0 run started with a three-pointer by Carl Elliott, then another one 12 seconds later after George Washington Coach Karl Hobbs unleashed his full-court press on Wilmington and caused a turnover. In fact, during the run when it seemed as if the Colonials had 10 guys on their side, they forced five turnovers.

“We’re used to being in these situations,” Hobbs said. “Our pressure can get us back in games fast and we’ve done it before.”

Indeed, George Washington this season trailed Xavier by 17 and Marshall by 12 in the second half of games it ended up winning.

“We’re kind of used to it,” George Washington forward Mike Hall said. “Being behind, it doesn’t faze us.”

Once George Washington took the lead neither team led by more than four and, with 25 seconds left in regulation. T.J. Carter gave Wilmington a 79-77 lead after making a three-pointer.

With 11 seconds left, though, Carter fouled Elliott on a three-point attempt. Elliott made the first two shots, but his third one bounced off the rim and the game went to overtime.

Wilmington took an early four-point lead in the extra period, but the Colonials scored the final seven points. Six Colonials scored in double figures, led by reserve guard Maureece Rice, who had 20. Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who had sat out the last three weeks because of a torn knee ligament, played 27 minutes and had 10 points.

Carter scored 25 points for Wilmington.

Duke 70, Southern 54 -- Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick combined for all but 12 of the top-seeded Blue Devils’ points to help them overcome a sluggish start and defeat the 16th-seeded Jaguars.

Southern came out wearing powder blue uniforms with yellow piping, UCLA colors all the way. Its band played jazz, reggae, ragtime and had the fans in the Greensboro Coliseum dancing in their seats, even Duke’s.

And the Jaguars from the maligned Southwestern Athletic Conference even led the dynasty that is Duke. When Jerrid Campbell, a senior, scored a layup 1:12 into the game, he beat his chest and howled at the ceiling as he ran up court. His team was ahead, 2-0.

This enthusiasm carried the Jaguars well into the second half and they were within five with 13:30 to play before Duke pulled away. And while the Blue Devils were never in danger of losing, they were a little sloppy and often bothered by Southern’s overall quickness.

The Jaguars (19-13) were making their first NCAA appearance in 16 years and they were aggressive on offense and defense all night. But whenever the Blue Devils needed a basket, Redick, who scored 29 points, connected from outside or Williams, who had 29 points and 18 rebounds, would clear space inside for dunks and layups.

Otherwise it was not an overpowering performance by Duke. Besides Redick and Williams, the Blue Devils were two for 12 from the field. And after only having 25 turnovers in three Atlantic Coast Conference tournament games, they had 20 against Southern.

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski was not thrilled with how his team played either. “We were ready to play,” he said, “but ready to play the wrong way. We were just going to fastbreak, go one-on-one, and we looked bad. Southern made us look bad, we made us look bad.”

Chris Alexander, a 6-foot-1 senior guard for the Jaguars wowed the crowd with the way he avoided Williams’ long arms by shooting rainbow shots from 20 feet away, finishing with 19 points.

The Blue Devils (31-3) will play George Washington on Saturday in a second-round game. “We thought it was going to be easier,” Krzyzewski said, “and this tournament is not that easy.”

In Jacksonville, Fla:

Texas A&M; 66, Syracuse 58 -- Acie Law scored 23 points, including a dozen in the final 2:25, to lead the 12th-seeded Aggies (22-8) to an upset of the fifth-seeded Orange (21-12).

Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara was held to two points. He was 0 for 11 from the field, including five misses from beyond the three-point arc.

Terrence Roberts led the Orange with 16 points.

Law finished seven of 17 from the field and had seven rebounds and five assists for Texas A&M.;

Louisiana State 80, Iona 64 -- Glen Davis scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half and the fourth-seeded Tigers (24-8) overcame a sluggish start.

Davis, a 6-9, 310-pound sophomore took over after missing eight of his first nine shots and being held to five points in the opening half. He finished seven for 15 from the field and had 13 rebounds.

Steve Burtt and Ricky Soliver did all they could to keep the No. 13-seeded Gaels (23-8) in the game. Burtt had 23 points and Soliver 14.*

The Associated Press contributed to this report.