It was a game between two "overs."

UNC-Wilmington is good but felt overlooked. George Washington is good but is said to be "overrated."

So how did it go?

To overtime, of course.

UNCW "exposed" George Washington in the second half as the Seahawks jumped to an 18-point lead with 11 minutes left.

Then George Washington showed the strength behind its top-10 ranking by storming back to force overtime and win 88-85 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Afterward, GW coach Karl Hobbs was using another "over" word, calling his team an "overachiever."

The problem is that the overachiever with only two losses and the most wins in school history now must face top-ranked and No. 1-seeded Duke in the second round.

The only "over" for George Washington may be "it's over."

Or is it?

Conventional analysis would say that any team that struggles so mightily with UNCW is no match for Duke. And perhaps the struggle itself will make George Washington even weaker in the second round.

Still, the Colonials are a danger for Duke. GW wasn't happy it didn't get seeded higher than No. 8.

Duke isn't happy about stepping into what should be an easy second-round game and finding a team that's 27-2, especially after the Blue Devils struggled some with No. 16 seed Southern.

But GW's ranking and record aren't what should worry Duke. What's impressive is the way GW plays.

Hobbs calls it "share the game." The Colonials rotate the ball on the perimeter and look for their big man, 6-foot-9 senior Pops Mensah-Bonsu inside.

When Mensah-Bonsu isn't open or on the bench (as he was for 18 minutes of Thursday's 45-minute game), GW takes 3-pointers (10-for-22) or drives.

The part of Thursday's box score that will get Duke's attention is this: Seven GW players played significant minutes, and six of them scored in double figures.

Mensah-Bonsu, a regular star of ESPN's dunk highlights, said he welcomes the chance to show the country how GW can play against Duke.

"I was looking forward to it once I saw our seeding and what could happen in the second round," he said, "I said, 'This is what college basketball is about. This is what dreams are made of.' If we can go out and play like we can, we can prove to everybody that we deserve a little bit more respect."

Beyond balance, Duke must be wary of GW's tenacity. It begins with Hobbs, a 44-year-old former Connecticut point guard who instills his own intensity into his team.

In Hobbs' first game as GW's coach, the Colonials came back from 19 points down to beat Marshall. The team has come back often this year and is 6-2 when trailing at halftime.

"We've been in this situation before," Hobbs said of being down 18 to UNCW. "The resiliency and the will to win is just incredible, and it really speaks to the character of my players."

Mike Hall, a 6-8 forward and one of four starting seniors, said, "I can't explain how we can get down, but I know how we get back. Just being a mature team, guys banding together and knowing what we got to do to win. Just that 'never die' attitude. Everybody on the team, from the stars to the walk-ons, have it."

In coming back, the fog of obscurity lifted off the team from D.C.'s Foggy Bottom.

Thursday's comeback was the Colonials' first NCAA Tournament win in 12 seasons. Their No. 8 seed, though disputed, is their highest ever.

But GW could use a win over Duke to come all the way up. Junior guard Danilo Pinnock said the team often is reminded the nation hasn't quite figured out who the Colonials are.

"We still get confused with Georgetown sometimes in the airport," he said.

On Saturday, George Washington wouldn't mind be mixed up with the Hoyas. Georgetown was the first of only three teams to beat Duke in the regular season.

George Washington wants to be the first in the postseason.