Nov. 29, 2003
Box Score
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (Nov. 29, 2003)- Senior guard Mark Davis (Springfield, VA/R.E. Lee/Palm Beach CC) equaled his career-high of 26 points, leading four players in double figures, as George Mason never trailed in defeating host Iona 92-83 Saturday evening at Mulcahy Center, giving Patriot head coach Jim Larranaga his 300th career victory.
Sophomore guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, MD/Oxon Hill) contributed 15 points, while sophomore forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, MD/Maine Central Inst.) recorded his third career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Raoul Heinen (Bunschoten, Holland) added 11 points and six assists. Junior guard Terry Reynolds (Nashville, TN/Toledo) recorded a game-high 10 assists.
Steve Burtt came off the bench to score 19 points, leading five players in double figures for the Gaels (1-2). Ricky Soliver had 15 and Greg Jenkins posted 13 points and a game-high 16 boards for Iona who outrebounded Mason, 49-36.
Mason (2-1) shot 51.4 percent for the game, including 50.0 percent in the first half, as the team led by 19 with just under five minutes left in the frame. But, the Gaels responded with a 16-7 run to close the stanza trailing, 43-33.
The Patriots continued to lead in the second half, but a put-back layup from the Gaels' Anthony Bruin, trimmed the Mason advantage to 59-43, with 15 minutes left in the game. A layup and 3-point shot from Davis pushed the lead back to nine before the Gaels got the score to within five, 85-80, with less than a minute to play. Davis would score five the Patriots' next seven points en route to the win.
Mason totaled 24 assists and 12 steals while forcing Iona into 24 turnovers, including 16 in the first half. The Gaels shot 44.1 percent for the game and 90.0 percent from the free throw line in the first half. That percentage fell off in the second as Iona shot only 57.1 percent. The Patriots, however, went 81.3 percent from the charity stripe in the second period to help secure the win.
This is the seventh season (102-75) at George Mason for Larranaga, whose 20 years as a head coach include stints at American International and Bowling Green. His career record is 300-244.
George Mason returns to action Tuesday when it hosts East Carolina at 7 p.m. at Patriot Center.
