WASHINGTON – A fast start and a halftime lead by Gallaudet University stunned an undefeated Washington (Md.) College squad in Saturday's non-conference men's basketball game in the Field House.

The visiting Shoremen regrouped and outscored the Bison 41-24 in the second half to win a game that was a lot closer than the final score of 74-60 showed. Washington (9-0) is off to its best start in school history since the 1928-29 season when they went 10-0 but still trail the school record of 20-0 set in 1924-25.

Gallaudet (1-8) made three of the first four baskets to start the game and used a 10-0 run, over a three-minute span, to take a 16-5 lead just over six minutes into the contest. GU had five different scorers to start the game as the Bison drained two 3-pointers from first year Keanu Ray Boren (Frederick, Md.) and sophomore guard Alex Ortman (Norway, Mich.).

The Bison held an 11-point lead two more times before the Shoremen crawled their way back into the game. GU senior guard Bruce Brewer Jr. (Santa Fe, N.M.) made a 3-pointer off an assist from Ortman at the 9:43 mark as the Bison led 21-10.

Washington turned to outside shooters Jaedon Harris and Jacob Becker (11 points), who entered the game off the bench, to get the Shoremen back into the game. The duo scored the next 10 points for the visitors including one shot each from 3-point range as the Shoremen only trailed by three, 23-20.

Gallaudet was able to increase its lead back to 10 points as the Bison scored seven straight points from the combination of Ortman, sophomore guard Jory Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) and Brewer Jr., who made a second 3-pointer at the 4:11 mark.

The Shoremen went on a quick 11-2 run to cut the Bison lead down to one, 32-31, before first-year forward Jayden Orsi-Pedersen (Frederick, Md.) and Valencia made jumpers to send Gallaudet into halftime up 36-33. This was the first time this season that Washington College trailed at the half against a NCAA Division III team.

In the second half, Washington College knotted the game at 40 apiece four minutes in before Boren made back-to-back baskets, including one 3-pointer, to push GU's lead back to five points.

Washington took its first lead of the game at the 13:10 mark on a fast break layup made by Max Portnoy off an assist from Ryan Lang as the Shoremen led, 46-45.

The Shoremen took advantage of Gallaudet's miscues as the visitors scored 28 points off 22 turnovers made by the Bison. The 22 turnovers are the second most made by the Bison this season. GU had 12 turnovers in the first half alone. Washington also scored 15 points off second-chance opportunities as the Shoremen grabbed 10 offensive rebounds. The visitors also scored 19 fast break points in transition against the Bison. On the flip side, GU only scored six points off eight turnovers made by the Shoremen. The Bison recorded four second-chance points and only had six fast break points.

GU had five players in double figures led by Valencia's double-double of 11 points and 11 assists, a new career-high, to go with six rebounds. Orsi-Pedersen netted a team best 12 points while Boren and Ortman finished with 11 points and four rebounds each. Sophomore guard Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds (11 defensive rebounds) and made a career best three blocks.

The Shoremen were led by Jon Nalty's 20-point game as he grabbed seven rebounds, made four steals and passed out three assists. Nolan Waldon added 19 points and recorded a team-best eight assists in the win.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is off until the new year when the Bison will dive into United East conference play on January 7, 2026, at home against Notre Dame of Maryland University at 5 p.m. in the Field House.