GW Snaps Losing Streak

George Washington 87, Fordham 62

Sometimes whom a team plays matters as much as how it plays. Facing a three-win Fordham team tormented by injuries, George Washington capitalized on an impressive first-half and cruised to an 87-62 victory yesterday before 2,576 at Smith Center.

The victory, GW's first since Dec. 23 and first in the Atlantic 10 this season, ended an 11-game losing streak.

"Sometimes you need to catch a break, and we needed to catch a break," GW Coach Karl Hobbs said. "Hopefully we can grow, and hopefully we can sort of use this as a springboard to help us win the next game."

The Colonials (7-13, 1-7) had been playing better lately, just not coming away with wins. Five of their last six games had been against teams in the top half of the conference, and only one of their last six losses was by 10 or more points.

Fordham (3-17, 1-7) offered the perfect antidote to GW's woes. The Rams are the worst defensive team in the league, allowing opponents to shoot 47.7 percent and to score 75.2 points per game. The Colonials, who averaged 65.4 points per game entering the contest, had their second-highest scoring output of the season.

With Hobbs debuting his eighth starting lineup of the season, inserting senior guard Noel Wilmore, junior point guard Johnny Lee and freshman swingman Aaron Ware for the first time, GW seized control early. The Colonials scored on nine consecutive possessions to take a 32-13 lead with 9 minutes 40 seconds left in the first half.

GW ran its half-court offense unusually well, passing to find the open shooter. And unlike previous games, that shooter more often than not made his shot. The Colonials sank 57.4 percent of their field goals, their second-highest percentage of the season, and had an assist on 15 of their 31 field goals. Ten players scored for GW, and four finished in double figures. Damian Hollis led the Colonials with 19 points.

Early in the second half, Rob Diggs (17 points) sank a three-pointer -- just the fifth of his career -- then made an eight-foot jumper near the free throw line. That basket not only gave GW its largest lead of the game, 67-26, it also was Diggs's 1,000th point in his career.

"It means a lot to me," said Diggs, whose two blocked shots gave him 129 and moved him into fourth place on the school's career list.

After increasing its lead to 41 early in the second half, GW suffered a few lapses. The Colonials committed 13 of their 17 turnovers in the final 20 minutes and were outscored 38-30. After holding the Rams to 2 of 13 shooting from three-point range, they allowed them to make 8 of 19 in the second half.

· HOWARD 72, MD.-EASTERN SHORE 65: Eugene Myatt scored 22 points and the Bison (6-16, 4-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) benefited from the visiting Hawks' (6-16, 2-7) poor foul shooting.

· AMERICAN 66, LEHIGH 58: Derrick Mercer scored 15 points and Garrison Carr added 14, leading the visiting Eagles (15-7, 7-1 Patriot League) to a victory over the Mountain Hawks (13-9, 2-5).

· NAVY 62, BUCKNELL 60: Mark Veazey scored four points in overtime and free throws by Chris Harris and Kaleo Kina in the final minute of the extra period were the difference as the Midshipmen (16-7, 5-3 Patriot League) defeated the Bison (5-18, 2-7).