Colonials Bounce Back from One-Point Loss with Dominant Display at Christl Arena
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Rafael Castro recorded 16 points and seven rebounds to lead George Washington (7-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10) to an 84-70 victory over Army West Point (3-7, 0-0 Patriot League) on Monday morning at Christl Arena.
The Colonials shot 84.4 percent from the free-throw line (27-for-32) and controlled the glass, outrebounding the Black Knights 40-25 to bounce back from a heartbreaking one-point loss to Murray State before a crowd of 377.
“Ultimately, it comes down to what it is every game—just executing what our coaches give us as a game plan. We work our tails off every day in practice. I feel like we game-planned really well for these guys. We gave them some new looks they weren’t used to,” said Army guard Jaxson Bell, who led the Black Knights with 15 points.
Castro, Johnson Lead Balanced Attack
Castro went 5-for-7 from the field and knocked down six of nine free throws while adding a steal. Garrett Johnson contributed 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds despite shooting 3-for-10 from the floor. The junior guard converted all seven of his free-throw attempts.
Christian Jones matched Johnson’s 14-point output on efficient 5-of-8 shooting, adding five rebounds, three assists, and a block. Luke Hunger provided a spark off the bench with 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field.
“I feel like we’re finding each other. We’re getting comfortable playing with each other,” Bell added when discussing his team’s offensive rhythm.
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Colonials Dominate the Paint and Free-Throw Line
George Washington outscored Army 30-14 in the paint and capitalized on 18 second-chance points compared to just five for the Black Knights. The Colonials assisted on 23 of their 25 made field goals (92.0 percent), showcasing unselfish ball movement throughout the contest.
The free-throw disparity proved decisive, as George Washington attempted 32 foul shots to Army’s six. The Black Knights struggled with foul trouble throughout, committing 19 fouls compared to 15 for the visitors.
“I feel like some missed opportunities. I feel like there was some 50-50 balls we could have come up with. Ultimately, it came down to us fouling. I feel like we fouled a lot more. After the free throw line, they got some easy ones,” Bell said. “And for us to win, we’re going to have to be able to find a way to steal some easy ones against better teams and better scouting reports.”
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First Half: Back-and-Forth Battle
The game featured 12 lead changes and four ties in a competitive opening 20 minutes. Johnson opened the scoring with a jumper in the paint, but Army’s Ryan Curry answered with a 3-pointer to give the Black Knights their first lead at 3-2.
George Washington raced out to a 12-3 advantage behind strong play from Castro and Johnson, forcing an Army timeout just 2:29 into the game. The Colonials extended their lead to 12 points at 21-9 before Army mounted a comeback.
The Black Knights closed the half on a 12-4 run, cutting the deficit to four points at intermission, 45-41. Army shot 53.8 percent from the field in the opening half, including 9-for-17 from beyond the arc.
Second Half: Colonials Pull Away
George Washington opened the second half with renewed defensive intensity, limiting Army to 35.5 percent shooting after the break. The Colonials pushed their lead to double digits multiple times, reaching a game-high 14-point advantage in the final minute.
Tre Dinkins provided crucial minutes off the bench, finishing with nine points on 3-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. The guard added four assists in 25 minutes of action.
Army Shows Fight Despite Loss
Jaxson Bell paced Army with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, connecting on four 3-pointers. Jackson Furman added 11 points, while Curry and Jacen Holloway each contributed 10 points in the losing effort.
Army Head Coach Kevin Kuwik acknowledged his team’s competitiveness despite the loss.
“I mean, there’s no way around it. We lost. And there were shots we had. There were opportunities we had. There were a lot of things we could have done better. We fouled too much. We didn’t do a good job on the glass,” Kuwik said. “But from a process standpoint, from where we were at the start of the season, from where we were after Harvard till now, we’re getting better. That’s a good team. We did a lot of good things and battled them.”
The Black Knights shot 41.0 percent from 3-point range (16-for-39) but were outrebounded by 15 and struggled to get to the free-throw line, attempting just six foul shots compared to George Washington’s 32.
“We’re a young team. There’s going to be ups and downs,” Kuwik said. “What I like is I think we have multiple weapons that can put a lot of pressure on the other team. And, you know, when one guy doesn’t have it, somebody else steps up in his place.”
Looking Ahead
George Washington improved to 7-2 overall with the victory, bouncing back from the narrow defeat to Murray State. Army West Point dropped to 3-7 on the season and will look to regroup as it continues Patriot League play.
The Colonials will continue their non-conference schedule as they build momentum heading into Atlantic 10 competition.
Game Summary
George Washington 84, Army West Point 70
- Date: December 2, 2025
- Location: Christl Arena, West Point, N.Y.
- Attendance: 377
- Officials: Mike Evans, Nathan Hall, Tim Smith
- George Washington (7-2)
Leading Scorers:
- George Washington: Rafael Castro (16), Garrett Johnson (14), Christian Jones (14), Luke Hunger (11)
- Army West Point: Jaxson Bell (15), Ryan Curry (14), Jackson Furman (11), Jacen Holloway (10)
Key Statistics:
- Second-chance points: George Washington 18, Army 5
- Points in the paint: George Washington 30, Army 14
- Bench points: George Washington 28, Army 31
- Fast break points: George Washington 6, Army 9
- Lead changes: 12
- Times tied: 4
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