Dec. 11, 2000

Box Score

Providence 93, George Washington 80

WASHINGTON (AP) - Abdul Mills had a career-high 25 points and Providence beat George Washington 93-80 Monday night, the Friars' fourth straight victory.

In the first meeting between the schools, the Friars (6-3) led by as many as 21 points in the second half. George Washington (5-4) pulled within 82-75 with 1:42 to go on two free throws by SirValiant Brown, who didn't start for the first time this season.

But Mills made five of six free throws over the next 29 seconds to give Providence an 87-77 lead, and the Colonials got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Karim Shabazz had 14 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Friars, while Maris Laksa had a career-high 18 points off the bench.

Chris Monroe had 20 points and Patrick Ngongba and Mike King each added 15 for George Washington, which lost for the fourth time in five games.

John Linehan had 15 points for Providence, which made seven of its first 10 3-point attempts and tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers.

Brown, who finished with nine points, entered the game averaging 22.1 points. He did not start since George Washington coach Tom Penders, according to a school spokesman, said Brown does not shoot well early in the game.

Freshman Greg Collucci, making his first start for GW in place of Brown, had his team's only two turnovers in the first 4:26. He was replaced by Brown with 16:35 left in the first half and the Colonials trailing 12-4.