Final Stats | USATSI Gallery

WASHINGTON, DC -- Sophomore guard Nico Clareth's desperation look at a potential game-winning, 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark as defending NIT Champion George Washington held off Siena Basketball 77-75 in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at the Charles E. Smith Center. Senior guard Marquis Wright led the Saints with 21 points, while classmate Javion Ogunyemi added 19 and Clareth contributed 14.

Moments earlier, Clareth drained a huge three to draw Siena (1-1) within two with 5.9 seconds to go. The Saints then fouled George Washington's (2-0) Yuta Watanabe, who proceeded to miss both free throws with 4.1 left on the clock. Clareth corralled the rebound and sped into the frontcourt, but wasn't able to connect as the Colonials held on to post their 26th consecutive non-conference home win.

The tightly contested battle featured four ties and 14 lead changes, with George Washington claiming a 34-33 advantage at the half. One of six Baltimore/Washington Metro-area natives on Siena's roster making their homecoming, Wright led the Saints in the opening stanza with 16 points.

While the first half was a seesaw affair, the second 20 minutes featured a 12-0 run from each side. Siena's spurt put them in front 51-47 on a Clareth three with 12:11 to play. The Colonials later responded with their run to reclaim the lead for good on a three-pointer by Seton Hall transfer Jaren Sina to take a 65-58 lead with five minutes left.

Sina and Colin Smith combined for 27 second half points after the duo was shutout in the first half. 2016 NIT MVP and Preseason First Team Atlantic 10 selection Tyler Kavanaugh added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists for George Washington which held a 46-29 advantage in rebounding, fueling a 24-11 edge in second chance points.

Ogunyemi added seven rebounds and three blocks and Kadeem Smithen came off the bench to score seven points for Siena which dropped its road opener for the fourth straight season.

Siena continues play in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic with its second of four games in an eight-day stretch, when the Saints travel to face perennial national power No. 7/8 Kansas Friday at 8 p.m. ET.