When asked to recall one's favorite GW game, most will select a game with very high stakes.  The win over Charlotte to cap an undefeated A10 season.  The incredible comeback just a few weeks later to defeat UNCW in the first round of the NCAA's.  The win over Southern to advance to our only Sweet 16, and even the Sweet 16 loss to Michigan where GW came back to take a three point lead in the second half.  Or, maybe a great upset such as the Mo Creek dagger to beat Maryland, or knocking off schools like Michigan State or UVA.

However, if we are looking for one of the great games period, regardless of stakes or opponent, you would be hard pressed to improve upon a GW victory over Old Dominion that took place 26 years ago this week.  For background, this was Tom Penders's first GW team, the only one he would take to the postseason.  GW was just 4-3 at the time and needed a big win.  ODU entered the game 8-1 with its sole loss to the 3rd ranked UNC Tar Heels by just two points (Ed Cota had the buzzer beater.).  This was one of Jeff Capel's finest teams (the father Capel, not the son), a 25 win team that did not go dancing since it failed to win the CAA Tournament.

GW trailed by 11 at halftime and by as many as 13 in the second half, only to take a 6 point lead in just 7 minutes of play.  The lead changed hands 4 times in the final 2 minutes with Yegor Mescherikov scoring on a banker and then a three pointer to give the Colonials a two point lead. ODU then hit two free throws to tie the game at 89 with less than four seconds separating the shot clock from the game clock.  And then, it was Shawnta time.  He dribbled the ball in place at midcourt as the clocks wound down.  With under 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Shawnta made his move and hit a three pointer, the final points in GW's 92-89 win.  For the game, Shawnta finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 steals.  This may very well have been the single best complete performance by a GW player before or since.

If this game was not before your time, it most definitely should go down as one of GW's most underrated performances, if not an all-time favorite.