Colonials' Strong Start Gets All Fouled Up

Rhode Island 94, George Washington 89

George Washington senior guard Noel Wilmore doesn't want anyone feeling sorry for the Colonials, who haven't won in more than a month. Just because GW continues to invent new ways to lose games, including yesterday's 94-89 double-overtime defeat to Rhode Island at Smith Center, Wilmore insisted that no one is hanging his head in despair.

"We don't really sob," said Wilmore who scored a season-high 20 points. "We're not looking for anybody's pity. I know tomorrow's practice is going to be very hard. Guys will be very competitive and that's how it's got to be and that's how it's going to have to be for us to get where we want to be."

Where GW wants to be is winning again. The Colonials (6-11, 0-5 Atlantic 10) have lost nine in a row, the second-longest losing streak in Coach Karl Hobbs's tenure at GW.

Having fallen just short of a victory in its past three games -- losing those contests by a total of 11 points -- GW came out strong in the opening minutes against Rhode Island (13-7, 2-3). The Colonials shot 50 percent from the floor and held the league's most prolific offense more than 11 percentage points below its average field goal percentage in the first half.

But that promising start was undone by GW's foul troubles. Wynton Witherspoon, who had scored in double figures in the last four games, accumulated three fouls by halftime and finished with seven points. Rob Diggs, the Colonials' top scorer, picked up his third foul 3 1/2 minutes into the second half. Diggs fouled out when he was called for a charge with 5 minutes 12 seconds left in regulation.

After Diggs left, GW didn't have anyone attacking the basket and drawing fouls. Diggs scored nine of his 20 points at the free throw line.

His absence, however, was felt more on the defensive than offensive end. Without Diggs, who also blocked three shots, GW was missing someone underneath the rim who could impede Rhode Island's big men. Kahiem Seawright, Rhode Island's 6-foot-8 forward, had seven points in the first 40 minutes. With Diggs on the bench, Seawright scored eight points in the two five-minute overtimes. He and Delroy James, another 6-8 forward, scored 15 of the Rams' 26 points in the extra periods.

"Down the stretch, they really, really got the ball inside," Hobbs said.

Despite GW's foul trouble, Johnny Lee nearly carried the Colonials to victory. Hobbs went with Lee and Wilmore rather than the starting back court of Travis King and Tony Taylor for most of the game. King played 14 minutes and Taylor just eight after they combined to score zero points on 0-for-5 shooting.

Lee, playing a career-high 38 minutes, finished with 11 points. The 5-8 junior guard also had five assists and was the team's leading rebounder with seven. After Diggs went out, Lee sank a three-pointer to put GW ahead 63-61, then made another big three-point basket in the second overtime.

Freshman guard Aaron Ware also played well for GW, scoring 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Still, their contributions were not enough for the Colonials on this day.

"The guys are playing hard," Hobbs said. "They're enthusiastic. They're coming to practice ready to play. They're going into games knowing and believing they're capable of winning them. Coming up short a little bit today, this is a tough, tough pill to swallow."

· ARMY 76, NAVY 71: Cleveland Richard scored 17 points, and Josh Miller added 14 as the Black Knights edged the Midshipmen in West Point, N.Y.

Army (5-13, 1-3 Patriot League) led 33-26 at the half and shot 26 of 40 for the game.

Adam Teague scored 16 points, and Clif Colbert added 14 and Jordan Sugars had 13 for the Mids (14-6, 3-2). Navy shot only 19 of 61 from the field.