Sports

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Saturday, February 18th, 4:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Charles E. Smith Center (4,338) -- Washington, D.C. Television: CSN-PHI. Home Record: SJU 11-2, GW 5-6. Away Record: SJU 4-7, GW 2-9. Neutral Record: SJU 2-1, GW 2-1. Conference Record: SJU 7-5, GW 4-7. Series Record: Saint Joseph's leads, 31-24.

GAME NOTES: Seeking back-to-back wins for just the second time since the end of November, the George Washington Colonials entertain the Hawks of Saint Joseph's in Atlantic 10 Conference action at the Smith Center this afternoon.

Since opening the 2011-12 campaign with four wins in five games, the Colonials have fallen on hard times and have logged a total of just five more wins. The most recent of those came a week ago at Richmond, 69-67, as GW snapped a five- game slide with just its fourth conference win in 11 opportunities.

As for the Hawks, they've picked up the pace in recent weeks with a total of five wins in seven tries in order to move to 7-5 versus the rest of the A-10. On Wednesday night, the team defeated Rhode Island on the road in an 80-69 final, the team's second straight victory and the fourth in five outings.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Hawks lead by a count of 31-24.

Carl Jones led all scorers with 28 points, adding six assists and four rebounds, as he was able to guide the Hawks into the win column against the Rams on the road. C.J. Aiken added 18 points and Langston Galloway contributed another 16, while Halil Kanacevic responded with six points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the squad made good on an impressive 55.8 percent from the floor and a perfect 14-of-14 at the free-throw line. After 27 games, Jones leads a quartet of double-digit scorers for the Hawks with his 16.4 ppg, handing out 87 assists along the way which is second on the unit behind only Kanacevic (7.9 ppg) who not only has 96 dishes and 7.9 rpg, but also 49 blocked shots. Aiken (11.5 ppg) has been a pest in the paint as well with his 101 rejections, one of the top numbers in college basketball.

In a game that experienced nine ties and 16 lead changes, George Washington assumed its largest lead of the afternoon at just the right time and then held on for the two-point road win at Richmond last weekend. David Pellom stepped up with a team-best 16 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the floor in a reserve role, followed by Dwayne Smith and Lasan Kromah with 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the squad knocked down 55.1 percent from the field in order to offset just 3-of-9 beyond the arc. One of two players to have started all 11 conference games for the Colonials, Tony Taylor is still the leading scorer for the group in league play with his 14.3 ppg, although his 39.2 percent accuracy from the floor isn't always that encouraging. However, having Taylor on the floor is crucial because he has also handed out 55 assists and connected on 52-of-64 at the free-throw line in those outings. Kromah (11.6 ppg) and Pellom (10.0 ppg) contribute to the team's mere 65.4 ppg in league action.

The Hawks continue to have their ups and downs and while it would be great for the team to continue to work towards a strong end to the regular season, something says the group is due for a let down today.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: George Washington 69, Saint Joseph's 67

02/18 10:31:38 ET