Dec. 3, 2000

Box Score| Notes

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Byron Mouton scored 17 points as No. 13 Maryland avenged last year's upset loss to George Washington with a 71-63 victory Sunday in the championship game of the BB&T Classic.

Mouton, a junior transfer from Tulane, was 8-of-12 from the field to help Maryland (3-3) repel the pesky Colonials (5-2). Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon each had 13 points for the Terrapins, who avoided their first 2-4 start since 1969.

The game was tied with 9:35 left before a follow shot by Tahj Holden, a dunk by Baxter and a short jumper by Drew Nicholas put the Terrapins up by six. After a GW basket, Mouton hit a jumper and Baxter added two free throws to make it 63-55.

SirValiant Brown had 18 points and Jaason Smith added 14 for George Washington, which shocked Maryland in last year's title game. The Colonials closed to 64-61 with 1:44 left, but Terence Morris scored inside and Baxter made two free throws to secure the victory.

The Colonials never led until Chris Monroe made two fouls shots with 11:39 left to make it 49-47. Dixon and Nicholas then hit short jumpers for Maryland, but Brown powered inside for a basket that again tied the score.

GW made only one field goal over the next four minutes, however, as Maryland pulled away to its third BB&T title in the six-year history of the tournament.

After Mouton scored 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting to help Maryland take a 35-24 lead, Smith reeled off 10 straight points to bring the Colonials back, capping the run with a breakaway dunk.

Holden interrupted the run with two free throws, and Mouton followed with Maryland's only field goal in the last six minutes, a 3-pointer that made it 40-34 at halftime.