Jan. 22, 2005
Box Score
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- It's only fitting that head coach Jim Larranaga would earn the all-time coaching wins record against George Mason's long-standing rival.
The Patriots snapped a three-game losing streak and made Larranaga the winningest coach in school history with a 77-58 win at James Madison in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Saturday night at the JMU Convocation Center.
Mason evened its overall record to 8-8 while improving its league mark to 3-4. Larranaga, in his eighth season in Fairfax, picked up his 131st coaching victory against 92 losses at Mason. He surpassed John Linn, who complied a 130-147 record in 10 seasons (1971-80) at the school.
Mason used a 10-0 flurry during the final 1:47 of the first half to make a one-point lead an 11-point, 31-20, halftime advantage. The Dukes (3-13, 1-6 CAA) turned the ball over twice and missed two shots during the outburst and the Patriots converted every possession into points.
Junior guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md./Oxon Hill), who finished with a game-high 22 points, 13 of which came after the break, hit his first of four three-pointers to start the barrage. Back-to-back layups from freshman forward Will Thomas (Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph's) and junior point guard Tony Skinn (Takoma Park, Md./Takoma Academy) pushed the margin to eight. Skinn connected for a 3-pointer with one second remaining before the teams headed to the locker rooms.
JMU managed to cut the lead into single digits and pulled to as close 37-30 when sophomore Cavell Johnson hit a jumper with 16:15 remaining. However, the Patriots didn't allow the Dukes to get closer and gradually built as much as a 24-point bulge late in the game.
JMU junior guard Jomo Belfor turned in a career-high scoring performance for the second consecutive contest. He tallied 20 points against the Patriots after netting 18 on Wednesday at Towson.
Johnson finished with 12 points and was joined in double figures by freshman center Gabriel Chami, also with 12. Johnson grabbed seven rebounds and registered three blocked shots.
Skinn had his third-best scoring night of the season with 19 points. Junior forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen), the second leading rebounder in the league, snared 10 boards for the Patriots. Thomas came off the bench to post his second career double-double, tying career-bests of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Saturday's meeting was the teams' 71st since JMU moved to the NCAA varsity basketball level - the longest rivalry for both programs. The Dukes have a 45-26 advantage since 1969-70.
Mason shot 53 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent for the game, while holding the Dukes to 37 percent overall and 28 percent from three-point range. The Patriots out rebounded the Dukes, 39-28.
George Mason hosts Hofstra Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Box Score
George Mason (8-8, 3-4 CAA) 31-46=77
James Madison (3-12, 1-6 CAA) 20-38=58
