GAME NOTES: The Fordham Rams open their Atlantic 10 home schedule against the reigning conference champion George Washington Colonials at Rose Hill Gymnasium tonight. George Washington has won two of its last three affairs, including a memorable conference opener last Thursday. The Colonials held Saint Louis to the lowest point total since the induction of the shot clock in 1985, dominating the Billikens by a 49-20 score. The victory came at home where the Colonials have been perfect in five contests. However, the squad has yet to win away from their home floor and play three of their next four games on the road. Fordham had the unfortunate task of opening conference play at Duquesne and 24th-ranked Xavier last week. The Rams fell to Duquesne 74-62 on Wednesday and followed it up with a 68-50 loss to the Musketeers three days later. It was the Rams' third loss in a row, but they get another shot at Duquesne on their home floor this weekend. GW head coach Karl Hobbs has not lost to Fordham in eight attempts, as the Colonials hold a strong 16-4 leads over the Rams in head-to- head matchups.

George Washington has only been in action once since December 29th, when the Colonials were run out of the gym in a 93-57 loss at Alabama. The Colonials bounced back in a big way however, handing Saint Louis one of its most humiliating defeats in school history. The GW defense held the Billikens to 14.6 percent shooting from the floor and 1-of-19 shooting from three-point range. Damian Hollis posted a double-double in the victory, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Colonials usually rely on the scoring of Wynton Witherspoon and Rob Diggs. The two combine to average 24.8 ppg, which accounts for more than one-third of the team's production (63.4 ppg). Diggs also leads the squad in rebounds (8.0 rpg) and blocks (18).

Head coach Derek Whittenburg has used a multitude of lineups in trying to find some consistent production. The only constant in the lineup has been Sebastian Greene, who is averaging a pedestrian 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Bryant Dunston has stepped up his game as of late. On the season, he is leading the squad in points (15.6 ppg), rebounds (8.7 rpg), and blocks (43) while nailing an impressive 51.4 percent from the floor. He posted 19 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to Xavier, while Marcus Stout chipped in with 16 points. Teams haven't found difficulty getting good looks at the basket against Fordham, as they are hitting 46.1 percent from the floor in the first 14 games this season.

Even though George Washington has had Fordham's number in the past few years, the Colonials haven't played a crisp offensive game in over a month. Meanwhile, the Rams have played stiff competition and held their own, so expect a win from them in front of the home crowd tonight.