Jan. 26, 2005

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va.- Junior guard Tony Skinn (Takoma Park, Md.) scored 18 points to lead four George Mason players in double figures, and the Patriot bench combined for 35 as Mason recorded a 94-78 win over Hofstra on Wednesday evening in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action at the Patriot Center.

It's the second straight game the Patriots have gotten significant contributions from their bench, which scored 21 points against James Madison on Jan. 22.

Head coach Jim Larranaga's trademark five-man reserve "Green Team" entered the game at the first media timeout to help start a 19-4 run and built a 16-point, 45-29, halftime lead for George Mason (9-8, 4-4 Colonial Athletic Association), which has won two in a row for the first time since mid-December. Mason led by as many as 21 points, 36-15, with 7:22 remaining in the first period following a fast-break layup from junior guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md.).

Hofstra (11-6, 3-5 CAA), which has lost five of its last six games, was led by guard Antonie Aguido who scored 20 points and made 4-of-4 three-pointers, including one with 14:38 left in the game to cut George Mason's lead to 11. However, the Patriots' reserves sparked another burst that put them back ahead by 21 with 9:57 to play.

The Pride managed to cut the deficit again to 11, most notably with 5:26 left, but Skinn scored four and Butler hit consecutive 3-pointers during a 10-2 run that pushed the margin back to 19 at 86-67 with 3:39 remaining.

Freshman guard John Vaughan (Lanham, Md.) scored a career-high 16 points and Butler had 14 for the Patriots, who hit 14-of-20 three-pointers and shot 54 percent from the floor in the game. Vaughan, Skinn and sophomore guard Tim Burns (Greenfield, Mass.), who tied his career-best with 11 points, all hit at least two 3-pointers in the first half as George Mason made 12 of its first 16 shots.

Guard Loren Stokes added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pride, while forward Aurimas Kieza totaled 10. Hofstra shot 43 percent from the floor and committed 15 turnovers with 16 assists. Mason dished out 21 assists compared to only eight turnovers and had 10 steals. The Pride out rebounded the Patriots, 42-33.

George Mason returns to the hardwood Saturday at 2 p.m. when it hosts William & Mary at the Patriot Center. Saturday's contest will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet.

Box Score
Hofstra (11-6, 3-5 CAA)		29-49=78
George Mason (9-8, 4-4 CAA)		45-49=94