NEW YORK — For George Washington’s three four-year seniors, the NIT was not how they wanted to go out.
The Colonials landed in the runner-up tournament after a weak second half of the season ended their NCAA tournament hopes. Instead of folding, they’re now among the last six college teams playing and have a chance to become the winningest team in program history Thursday night in the final against Valparaiso.
Now, the chance to win the last game of their college careers is more than enough for Joe McDonald, Patricio Garino and Kevin Larsen to play for. When the team advanced to the finals Tuesday night in a 65-46 win over San Diego State, one of four No. 2 seeds in the 32-team tournament, disappointment was in the past.
“I’m proud of them,” coach Mike Lonergan said. “We are playing for a championship. We know it’s not going to be easy and I can’t wait for Thursday night and I’m very happy I get to coach these guys for two more days.”
GW (27-10) advanced by holding the Aztecs to 29 percent shooting and generating 15 points off 11 turnovers. The Colonials broke San Diego State’s pressure with ease, getting assists on 17 of 26 baskets, six of them from McDonald.
It was fitting that McDonald, the stocky point guard with a long injury history, returned for the second half after twisting his ankle just before halftime. To protect him, Lonergan stationed him on the weak side of the team’s 1-3-1 zone. The zone wound up forcing San Diego State to finish 3-for-22 from beyond the arc and continue to shoot threes after going 1-for-9 in the first half.
“I think we are more confident than ever right now,” Garino said. “If we do what we are supposed to do, what we go through during the scout, I think we’re good.”
Tuesday’s win brought a bit of historical revenge. San Diego State coach Steve Fisher was the coach at Michigan in 1993 when the Wolverines ended the deepest NCAA tournament run in GW history in the Sweet 16.
At the beginning of this season, there were hopes that the Colonials could match that performance. With a 10-1 start including wins over Virginia and Seton Hall, the hype grew, culminating in GW’s first national ranking in a decade.
The cracks began to form in a 21-point loss at DePaul, then widened in losses at Saint Louis and to Richmond. A win at VCU could have turned things around, but the defensive presence the Colonials had in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday was nowhere to be found in losses to Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure and Davidson. GW finished 11-7 in the Atlantic 10.
The team still had hope before its A-10 quarterfinal against Saint Joseph’s. “Win and we’re in,” Lonergan had said. When the Colonials blew a 14-point halftime lead, the NIT was all but guaranteed.
“I was heartbroken we didn’t make the Big Dance, but I don’t want — I want people to hold me responsible for it and not them,” Lonergan said.
In the first round, the fourth-seeded Colonials needed a buzzer-beater from guard Alex Mitola to beat No. 5 seed Hofstra. After that, it seemed the Colonials decided they wanted to keep playing. GW thumped No. 1 seed Monmouth on the road and pounded the ball inside to beat No. 2 seed Florida at home.
“I didn’t want this to be my last game so I gave it everything,” Larsen said after his 14-point, 13-rebound night against the Gators.
Larsen, McDonald and Garino finally know when their last game will be. They’ve already doubled their wins from freshman year, when GW went 13-17. They’ve brought the team back to the postseason and haven’t missed the 20-win threshold since, but it seemed their senior years would end on a sour note.
As it turns out, the Colonials have a chance to finish cutting down the nets.
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