WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering reversal of momentum, the George Washington Revolutionaries survived a furious second-half rally from the Rhode Island Rams to secure a 75-70 victory in Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball action Tuesday night at a sparsely attended Charles E. Smith Center.

The contest unfolded in two distinct chapters. George Washington, leveraging its size and efficiency, dominated the opening period. The Revolutionaries built a commanding 34-18 halftime lead, holding the Rams to a frigid 27% shooting from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Rhode Island’s offense was disjointed, managing just six field goals in the half while committing eight turnovers.

The catalyst for the home team was center Luke Hunger. The 6-foot-10 Montreal native established himself early, scoring the game’s first four points and working effectively around the basket. He finished with a team-high 21 points, consistently capitalizing on feeds from guard Jean Aranguren, who dished out six assists. Alongside Hunger, forwards Tyrone Marshall and Garrett Johnson provided crucial secondary scoring, adding 15 and 17 points respectively. Marshall also contributed five assists and a key block.

The second half, however, was a stark contrast. Rhode Island emerged from the locker room with transformed energy, spearheaded by the explosive scoring of guard Tyler Cochran. The Chicago native, who was held in check before the break, erupted for 22 of his game-high 24 points in the second period. His driving layups and a pair of three-pointers fueled a blistering 20-6 run that brought the Rams roaring back into contention, erasing the 16-point deficit in less than seven minutes.

Rhode Island’s defensive intensity skyrocketed, forcing nine George Washington turnovers in the second half and converting them into 22 points off turnovers for the game. Myles Corey complemented Cochran with 20 points, 18 of which came after halftime, as the Rams attacked the paint relentlessly to finish with 34 points inside.

The game’s most critical sequence arrived in the final minute with the outcome still in doubt. After Rhode Island’s Jonah Hinton connected on a three-pointer to cut the George Washington lead to 72-70 with 27 seconds remaining, the Revolutionaries needed to inbound the ball under pressure. The Rams immediately fouled Jean Aranguren, who calmly sank both free throws to push the lead back to four with 18 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Rhode Island’s Myles Corey drove for a dunk to make it 74-72 with just 12 ticks on the clock, setting the stage for a tense finish. The Rams were forced to foul again, sending Tyrone Marshall to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with six seconds remaining. Marshall missed the first attempt, but in the scramble for the rebound, Rhode Island’s Keeyan Itejere was whistled for a foul. Marshall returned to the line and this time sank both free throws, sealing the 75-72 margin. A last-second layup by Corey as time expired provided the final 75-70 scoreline.

Despite the Rams’ second-half surge, key factors from the first half proved decisive. George Washington’s efficiency, reflected in an offensive rating of 111.1 points per 100 possessions compared to Rhode Island’s 101.3, and its performance at the free-throw line, where it made 14 of 20 attempts against Rhode Island’s 10-of-17 showing, provided the narrow margin required to withstand the comeback. The Revolutionaries also won the battle in the paint, 40-34.

With the win, George Washington evened its conference record and improved to 14-11 overall. The Revolutionaries will host George Mason on Friday. Rhode Island, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, fell to 14-10 and will prepare to host Fordham on Saturday. The game’s total points, 145, fell below the over/under line of 149.5.