Feb. 19, 2000

Box Score

WASHINGTON (AP) - SirValiant Brown, plagued by foul trouble most of the game, still scored 30 points as George Washington handed Rhode Island its ninth straight loss Saturday 99-81 in Atlantic 10 conference play.

GW (13-12, 7-5), which entered the game tied for second in the west division with Xavier, received a season-high 21 points from reserve Mike King and 19 from Chris Monroe.

The setback spoiled the 38th birthday of first-year Rhode Island head coach Jerry DeGregorio, whose team had another losing streak of 10 games that ended Jan. 15. The Rams (5-21, 2-11) had four players in double figures: Tip Vinson (19 points), Luther Clay (19, 12 rebounds), Zach Marbury (17) and Tavorris Bell (15).

Clay went over the 1,000-point mark for his college career, which began at Purdue. Clay now has 1,008 career points.

Brown entered the game as the nation's leading scorer at 24.8 points a contest for GW, which won for the seventh time in eight games.

Brown, who played just 23 minutes, picked up his third foul with 8:42 left in the first half. He sat out until the start of the second half but then picked up his fourth foul with 11:46 left in game, and sat out until returning with 4:00 left to go.

The first time he got the ball upon his return, Brown hit a 3-pointer and was fouled by Vinson. Brown hit the free throw to give the Colonials an 84-69 lead with 3:46 to go in the game.

GW led 50-41 at halftime, thanks to 55 percent shooting from the field and a 26-17 advantage on the boards, including 14 offensive rebounds.

Bernard Barrow had 12 points and seven assists for GW.

The Colonials entered the game as the top-scoring team in the conference at 81.6 points per game. Rhode Island was last at 57.5.