The 2024-25 college basketball season tipped off Monday, November 4th, with GW Basketball facing the Mercyhurst Lakers in what marked Mercyhurst’s debut as a Division I program. While national attention focused on higher-profile matchups, this game offered GW a chance to start fresh after a challenging 2023-24 season.
New Look Revs
Following a last-place finish in the Atlantic 10 last season, Head Coach Chris Caputo orchestrated a significant roster overhaul, bringing in four transfers and two freshmen. The rebuild was necessitated by the departure of key players, most notably James Bishop IV (18.3 PPG, 4.3 APG), who graduated and now plays professionally in Finland’s Korisliiga with Kouvot after a stint in the NBA Summer League with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team also lost Maximus Edwards to A-10 rival Duquesne via transfer and Garrett Johnson to injury reserve.
These departures left a significant void, as the trio had accounted for roughly 60% of GW’s scoring last season. The offensive burden now falls primarily on sophomore forward Darren Buchanan Jr., a DC native expected to take a major leap as the team’s primary scorer. Supporting him are key transfers Rafael Castro (Providence), Gerald Drumgoole Jr. (Delaware), and Trey Moss (William & Mary), who bring a combined decade of college basketball experience.
Game Breakdown
Despite expectations of a comfortable GW victory, Mercyhurst – fresh from Division II’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – showed early fight under Head Coach Gary Manchel. The Lakers, bolstered by Division I transfers and returning forwards Jeff Planutis and Aidan Reichert, stormed to an 18-5 lead by the ten-minute mark of the first half.GW struggled initially with poor shooting but found their rhythm late in the first half, pulling even at 29-29 going into halftime. The game remained tight until the 7:30 mark of the second half when a thunderous dunk by Trey Moss sparked a decisive run. GW spanked the Lakers in the last minutes of the game showing them the stark difference between Division I and Division II basketball. GW accumulated a large enough lead to even put in some of their deeper bench players and practice squad members highlighted by the play of 6’11” Aussie, Keegan Harvey. While Harvey did not make an exceptional impact on the game, his presence on the court alone indicated to the Lakers that the game was over and it was time for them to start up the buses and begin the six hour trek back to Erie, Pennsylvania.
Concerns
- Three-point shooting was abysmal at 17.4% (4-23)
- 12 turnovers against a lower-tier opponent
- Gerald Drumgoole Jr. struggled, shooting just 23.1% (3-13) from the field
- We still suck
Bright Spots
- Darren Buchanan Jr.: 19 points, 10 rebounds on 6-8 shooting
- Rafael Castro: 16 points, 10 rebounds on 6-8 shooting
- Trey Moss: 17 points on 50% shooting (6-12)
Looking Ahead
The Revs return to action Friday, November 8th at 7:00 PM in the Smith Center against Hampton University. The game features compelling storylines, including Hampton’s Noah Farrakhan, a former IMG Academy standout, and the return of GW fan favorite Daniel Nixon to his former home court.
While the victory over Mercyhurst showed promise, particularly in the frontcourt play of Buchanan Jr. and Castro, the shooting and ball security issues will need addressing as GW faces tougher competition, especially once A-10 play begins.