Nov. 27, 2004

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Junior guard Tony Skinn (Takoma Park, Md.) had 23 points to lead all scorers, and a career-high eight assists and five rebounds to pace George Mason to a 79-58 non-conference men's basketball victory over Duquesne on Saturday night in the home opener at Patriot Center.

Junior forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, Md.) recorded his second straight double-double and the 10th of his career with 20 points and a game-tying high 11 rebounds for the Patriots (2-1). Junior guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md.) added 19 points and five assists.

Skinn shot 8-for-17 from the field, including 5-for-8 on 3-pointers, and had only one turnover. Butler was 5-for-12 from 3-point range against the Dukes, who played zone defense throughout.

Leading 19-16 with 6:12 left to go in the first half, Skinn connected on a three that sparked a 22-7 run to close out the frame. He made four 3-pointers in the first half, including a buzzer-beater for a 41-23 halftime lead, and finished the stanza with 18 points. Butler scored 10 points in the first half for the Patriots, who shot 7-for-16 from behind the arc in the period compared to only 1-of-4 for the Dukes.

Duquesne (1-5), which has lost four in a row, got no closer than 12 points, 63-51, with just under six minutes left in the game. DeVario Hudson came off the bench to lead the Dukes with 18 points. Center Kieron Achara added 15 points and tied for game-high honors with 11 rebounds.

Mason totaled 19 assists to only five turnovers, while the Dukes had 16 assists and committed 18 turnovers. Mason managed 22 more shot attempts than Duquesne and hit 13-of-34 three-pointers.

George Mason begins its Colonial Athletic Association slate Wednesday when it hosts Towson at 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center.

Box Score
Duquesne (1-5)	        23-35=58
George Mason (2-1)	41-38=79