George Washington University Athletics
GW Survives Indiana State, 80-74
11/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FAIRBANKS, AK (November 19) The George Washington men's basketball team survived a scare and defeated pesky Indiana State, 80-74 in the season opener for both teams at the Top of the World Classic Friday in Fairbanks, AK. GW will face Oklahoma Saturday at midnight (EST). The Sooners dispatched Montana State, 91-76 Friday night.
GW got a game-high 19 points from freshman guard SirValiant Brown who was making his first collegiate appearance. Junior Bernard Barrow contributed 17 points and four steals in his first game as a Colonial.
The Colonials got off to a fast start taking an 8-0 lead on a pair of three-pointers by Barrow and a dunk by Albert Roma at the 16:52 mark of the first half. GW maintained a cushion throughout most of the first half before Indiana State cut the lead to three (26-23) at the 5:47 mark on a jumper by Abasi Thompson. Despite shooting just 41 percent in the first half, the Colonials took a 38-31 advantage into the locker room.
The Sycamores took charge to begin the second half with a 16-4 run to take a 47-42 lead at the 14:12 mark. GW responded with a 6-1 run to knot the game at 48-48 with 13:08 remaining. The game stayed close with neither team gaining more than a six-point advantage setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. With the game tied at 74, Barrow drove the lane with 33 seconds left and missed a running layup. GW freshman Chris Monroe, also playing in his first college game, grabbed the rebound and was fouled on the put-back attempt sending the former Good Counsel standout to the line. Monroe, who finished a perfect 7-for-7 from the line, calmly sank both free throws to put GW ahead, 76-74. The Sycamores, looking for a game-winning three-pointer, lost the ball out of bounds under the GW basket with 15 seconds left. Indiana State, forced to foul, allowed Brown to convert a pair of free thows with 11 seconds left to increase the lead to 78-74. A layup by Brown at the buzzer provided the final margin.
"We were fortunate to get a win over a good, solid Indiana State team," said GW coach Tom Penders who notched victory number 499. "It was the first game, a lot of funny things happened out there but it was a good win for us. I'm not saying it was a Picasso. We turned it over much too much ourselves, but we did turn them over."
GW forced Indiana State to commit 27 turnovers while committing just 17 themselves.
