Jan. 14, 2004

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Senior guard Mark Davis (Springfield, VA/R. E. Lee/Palm Beach CC) scored 18 of his game-high 24 points in the second half as George Mason handed visiting Hofstra an 84-76 setback in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Wednesday evening at Patriot Center. The Patriots tallied 52 second half points, which is the most they've scored in the second frame since netting 53 in an 86-66 victory against Winthrop in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Dec. 28, 2001.

Guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, MD/Oxon Hill) and forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, MD/Maine Central Inst.), both sophomores, came off the bench to net 15 and 12 points, respectively for the Patriots (10-3, 3-1 CAA). Butler went 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while Lewis, who fouled out with 6:09 left in the game, scored on 6-of-7 from the field and had 12 points at halftime.

"Mark and Lamar are feeling better each day," explained George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga. "They did a good job at William & Mary and they had it again tonight."

Forward Kenny Adeleke led Hofstra (6-9, 2-3 CAA) with a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Loren Stokes recorded 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and center Wendell Gibson finished with 12 points. Forward Danny Walker registered nine points, seven boards, four assists, four blocks and three steals for the Pride, who drop their fifth straight road game.

Hofstra led by 10 midway through the first half, 16-6, but Lewis scored six during an 11-1 run that tied the game, 17-17 with 7:52 left in the frame. Both teams battled back-and-forth, but a late 6-0 run in the final two and half minutes put Mason on top at halftime, 32-27.

The Pride opened the second period on a 6-2 spurt, capped by a three from guard Carlos Rivera, to tie the game for the seventh time, 35-35, at the 18:39 mark. The first six field goals Mason made in the second half were all 3-pointers, but the Patriots still only led 53-47 with 13:10 remaining in the game. Davis then went to work, scoring seven during an 11-2 run, capped by a reverse layup with 7:49 remaining, that put Mason in control, 64-49. Hofstra made a late 10-3 run to trim the advantage to 67-59 at the 4:01 mark, but the Patriots would make two field goals and 13-of-18 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

George Mason junior guard Terry Reynolds (Nashville, TN/Toledo) notched 12 points and seven assists in the win and senior guard Raoul Heinen (Bunschoten, Holland) scored eight points.

George Mason, which shot 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from 3-pt range in the second half, finished the contest going 49.0 percent from the floor overall and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Patriots' 43 free throw attempts, of which they made 28, was a season-high. The Pride out rebounded Mason, 35-34, and shot 44.8 percent from the field. The George Mason bench out scored Hofstra's bench, 34-8.

George Mason continues CAA play Saturday with a trip to Virginia Commonwealth for a 4 p.m. tilt in a game that will be televised live by Comcast SportsNet. Hofstra returns home to face UNC Wilmington Saturday at 4 p.m.

Box Score
Hofstra (6-9, 2-3 CAA) - 27-49=76
George Mason (10-3, 3-1 CAA) - 32-52=84