WASHINGTON (Interstat) — On a night when efficiency and execution were in short supply, the Delaware Blue Hens found just enough of both, riding a career performance from Justyn Fernandez to a 70-58 upset of the George Washington Revolutionaries in a nonconference men’s basketball game Wednesday at Charles E. Smith Center.

The victory snapped a two-game skid for Delaware and improved its record to 3-6, while the Revolutionaries, who entered as heavy favorites, fell to 8-3 before a crowd of 1,849.

The most important part of the game was Delaware’s immediate and sustained offensive punch, spearheaded by Fernandez, which established a lead George Washington could never overcome. The Blue Hens never trailed, opening the game with a three-pointer from Fernandez just 28 seconds in and building a double-digit advantage by the midway point of the first half. Fernandez, a 6-foot-5 guard from Richmond, Virginia, was the catalyst, scoring 27 points on a night where consistent scoring was a rarity. He played all 40 minutes, connecting on five three-pointers and setting an aggressive tone that his team followed.

George Washington, which had been projected with an 88.8% probability to win and was installed as a 21-point favorite, struggled profoundly on offense from the opening tip. The Revolutionaries shot a frigid 29% from the field, making just 18 of 62 attempts, and connected on only 8 of 28 from beyond the arc. Despite hauling in 15 offensive rebounds, they consistently failed to convert second-chance opportunities, finishing with an offensive rating of 83.5 points per 100 possessions.

Delaware, by contrast, was markedly more efficient with its chances. The Blue Hens shot 51% from the floor and 45% from three-point range. They scored 70 points on just 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 105.8, and committed only four assists, a statistic underscoring a game dominated by individual shot-making rather than fluid ball movement.

Fernandez received crucial support from backcourt mate Christian Bliss, who added 12 points and a game-high eight assists, and forward Macon Emory, who chipped in 13 points. The Blue Hens’ defense was also pivotal, recording seven blocks and forcing 15 George Washington turnovers, which offset their own 15 giveaways.

The Revolutionaries trimmed a 12-point halftime deficit to as few as six points early in the second half, but could never mount a sustained run. Every attempt to close the gap was met with a response from Delaware, often from Fernandez or Bliss. Trey Autry led George Washington with 17 points, while Garrett Johnson added 10. Center Rafael Castro, who had nine points, was a force on the glass but also committed several of the team’s 12 turnovers.

Delaware’s ability to maintain its composure and lead throughout was its defining achievement. After a first half that ended with the Blue Hens ahead 31-29, they opened the second period with a quick 8-2 spurt to rebuild a comfortable margin. George Washington’s shooting woes persisted, and Delaware’s steady, if unspectacular, offensive output was enough to keep the Revolutionaries at arm’s length for the final 15 minutes.

The game’s statistical profile was one of stark contrasts. George Washington won the battles for offensive rebounds, assists, and steals, but was undone by its inability to put the ball in the basket. Delaware’s advantages in field goal percentage and three-point shooting, coupled with a near-perfect 11-for-13 performance from the free-throw line, provided the foundation for the upset.

For Delaware, the win represents a significant road victory against a team that had been rolling offensively, having scored 99 and 84 points in its two previous games. The Blue Hens will look to build on this performance when they host Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

George Washington, which saw its total points fall well under the over/under line of 158.5, must regroup quickly before a neutral-site matchup against Florida on Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

The story of the night, however, was Delaware’s defiance of the odds and its star guard’s commanding performance, which from the opening minutes ensured this would not follow the predicted script.