Posted Saturday, Dec. 10, 9:30 p.m.
Updated 1:19 a.m.

BALTIMORE – The final score of the GW men’s basketball team’s 102-75 win over Morgan State University was hardly representative of the game’s tone. The No. 19/21 (AP/USA Today) Colonials (7-0) got a harsh introduction to a facet of the college basketball game that can make or break their season: playing on the road.

Until now, GW has played in the comfortable confines of Foggy Bottom and the ultra-friendly Smith Center. Only an hour up the road, GW had trouble containing the Bears, who are ranked last out of 334 teams in the last Sagarin NCAA basketball rating, a national college basketball strength index. Despite opening up the game on a 22-0 run, GW allowed the Bears to get to within nine points in the first half and as close as five in the second.

“You know it was very difficult, they were really playing hard,” GW Head Coach Karl Hobbs said. “I’m always concerned when we play a coach (Butch) Beard team because they always seem to be prepared for us.”

The offensive attack for GW was balanced, with five players in double figures. Junior Danilo (J.R.) Pinnock had a game-high 23 points and five assists for GW while senior Pops Mensah-Bonsu narrowly missed a triple-double, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and seven blocks. Junior Carl Elliott went 6-for-8 from the floor for 17 points, including five 3-pointers, while backcourt mate sophomore Maureece Rice had 15 points. Senior Omar Williams had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Senior Mike Hall played his worst game of the season, shooting 1-for-3 from the floor for five points. Hall had four fouls and an equal amount of turnovers.

Morgan State got 15 points from Joseph McLean while Tyree Spinner had 12 points. Spinner, who is listed at 300 pounds, was added to the squad two days ago and also serves as tight end on the Bears’ football team.

The Bears exploited GW’s weak perimeter defense, connecting on 10 3-pointers. The Colonials shot 64.8 percent from the floor while the Bears shot 35.1 percent.

“They did a terrific job in the first half of making threes,” Hobbs said. “I didn’t know what the heck was going on. I looked at the stat sheet and those threes were what really kept them in the ball game.”

Going into the second half, Hobbs said he told his squad to maintain their poise. The fifth-year coach has cited steadiness as a major problem of his team’s throughout the year.

The Colonials return to action on Dec. 17 against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Smith Center.