Tyler Cavanaugh scored 23, including a key 3-pointer in the final minute, and Kevin Larsen added 19 points with a season-high 13 rebounds to help George Washington beat Florida 82-77 Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the NIT.
Patricio Garino added 13 points and rebounds for fourth-seeded George Washington. Cavanaugh made 4 of 5 from 3-point range.
A jumper by Florida’s Chris Chiozza tied it at 73 with 2:25 left. Cavanaugh made 1 of 2 free throws about a minute later to put the Colonials up one and, after Dorian Finney-Smith missed a 3 on the other end, Cavanaugh knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 54 seconds left to make it 77-73.
Kasey Hill made 1 of 2 foul shots to pull the No. 2 seed Gators (21-14) within four, but Cavanaugh hit 4 of 4 from the free-throw line in the final 16 seconds to seal it.
George Washington (26-10) will face the winner of Georgia Tech and San Diego State in the semifinals Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
KeVaughn Allen led Florida with 22 points. Kevarrius Hayes scored 14.
The Gators made just 7 of 24 (29.2 percent) from 3-point range.
Cavanaugh has scored at least 20 in each of George Washington’s three NIT games while hitting 8-of-13 3-pointers.
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