Jan. 21, 2004
Box Score
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Sophomore forward Jai Lewis poured in a career-high 21 points and added seven rebounds to power George Mason to a 64-62 overtime victory over UNC Wilmington in a Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball game Wednesday night at Trask Coliseum.
The Patriots improved to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the CAA and snapped a six-game losing streak to the Seahawks at Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks lost their second straight to dip to 9-7 and 5-3.
Lewis, of Aberdeen, Md., was the only GMU player to reach double figures and recorded his season high before fouling out with 1:29 left in regulation. Sophomore guard Lamar Butler added nine points and four assists for the Patriots, who outscored the Seahawks, 8-6, in overtime.
Senior forward Anthony Terrell had 16 points and junior guard Ed Spencer added 10 for UNCW. The Seahawks shot 43.4 percent from the floor, but outrebounded GMU, 33-30.
With the score tied 56-all after regulation, the Seahawks jumped ahead, 60-56, behind buckets by Beckham Wyrick and Halston Lane. Butler canned a 3-pointer from the left wing, however, with 2:04 left in overtime to cut the deficit to 60-59.
After a turnover by the Seahawks, senior guard Mark Davis connected on a jumper from the left baseline to give the Patriots a 61-60 advantage at 1:12 before Terrell made a jumper in the lane for a 62-61 edge with 46 seconds showing. Junior guard Terry Reynolds hit a driving layup to give the Patriots the lead for good, 63-62, with 26 seconds left and added a free throw with seven seconds showing for a 64-62 lead. Spencer then missed a game-tying 10-footer on the left wing with one second left to end the game.
UNCW built a 37-29 lead at 15:47 in the second half, but failed to score again until 10:06 when Spencer made a pair of free throws. GMU regained the lead with a 10-2 run midway through the second half when Lewis converted a putback after an offensive rebound for a 43-41 edge with 7:30 left.
The Seahawks took a 30-24 lead into halftime, using an 11-2 run to break away early from the Patriots. Mitch Laue's dunk at 12:15 staked the Seahawks to a 13-6 lead. Reynolds capped an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 22-20 with a layup at 4:27, but Terrell's 3-pointer at buzzer gave UNCW a six-point cushion at intermission.
UNCW continues conference play Saturday when the Seahawks entertain Delaware in a 4 p.m. matchup televised by Comcast SportsNet. George Mason returns to the Patriot Center to host James Madison Saturday at 7 p.m.
