Dec. 6, 1999

Box Score| Notes

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - These crosstown rivalry games were made for players like SirValiant Brown.

Growing up in nearby Springfield, Va., he knew Maryland was mighty and that the other schools were often trying to catch up.

The freshman guard did some of that catching up himself Sunday night, scoring 27 points to lead George Washington to a 74-69 victory over the No. 24 Terrapins in the championship game of the BB&T Classic.

"Gosh, I just wanted to play against them," Brown said. "I didn't want to play on their team - I wanted to play against them, and I got my chance tonight."

Brown had a crucial steal and three free throws in the last minute, capping a physical, emotional second half in which every shot was contested, every loose ball produced a pile of bodies and almost every whistle led to some trash-talk.

Meanwhile, rival sets of fans made the MCI Center louder than it's been for any Washington Wizards game this season.

"It was an electric atmosphere," GW coach Tom Penders said.

Bernard Barrow hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:03 remaining and the shot clock about to expire to give the Colonials (4-3) a 70-67 lead. On Maryland's next possession, Brown stole the ball on an inbounds play underneath the GW basket and was fouled. He made both free throws to get the lead to five and added another free throw with 29.5 seconds left.

Maryland (6-2) upset No. 16 Illinois in the first round Saturday night, giving this tournament's scenario a familiar ring. Two years ago, Maryland upset No. 2 Kansas in the first round, then fell to unranked GW in the title game.

"I thought George Washington outworked us on loose ball situations," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "They just did a better job than we did."

Maryland went 4:44 without a basket over one second-half stretch, yet George Washington wasn't able to forge any kind of margin until Brown made two free throws after a steal by Barrow to put the score at 64-57 with 3:20 to play.

But Maryland came back to tie at 67-67 on Danny Miller's shot off the backboard with 1:40 to go. Barrow then made the 3-pointer that put GW ahead for good.

The Terrapins were hurt by 28 turnovers, their most in 35 games.

Lonny Baxter scored Maryland's first nine points and finished with 21, but he was outdone by Brown. The freshman shot from anywhere and everywhere, scoring 11 of his team's last 13 points in the first half to give GW a 39-34 lead at the break.

Maryland's Terence Morris, averaging 17.3 points coming into the game, took only two shots in the first half and didn't score until a scoop shot in the paint with 15:45 remaining. He then had to sit out crucial minutes down the stretch with four personal fouls.

"It's a two-way street," Williams said. "They players have to get him the ball, but he has to get open. GW did a good job."

Morris converted a steal into a 3-point play to put Maryland within one point at 66-65 with 1:52 remaining, but then he committed his fifth foul on the inbounds pass and was done for the game.