Jan. 5, 2005

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Virginia Commonwealth made 11 straight free throws within the final minute in handing George Mason an 81-74 setback in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action Wednesday night at the Patriot Center.

Junior forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, Md.) tied for game-high honors with 22 points to lead the Patriots (6-5, 1-1 CAA). Junior guards Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md.) and Tony Skinn (Takoma Park, Md.) finished with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Senior forward Michael Doles scored a career-high 22 points in snapping the Rams' (5-6, 1-1 CAA) three-game losing streak en route to the team's first road win of the season. Sophomore guard B.A. Walker had 21 points and junior forward Nick George added 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

VCU led for nearly the entire game, building the margin to 18 (62-44) with 6:30 left in the contest. Va. Commonwealth's last field goal occurred following a 3-pointer from Doles with 4:38 remaining. The Patriots, using a full-court press and trapping defense, fought back with a 20-6 run and pulled within three on several occasions with less than a minute remaining.

Skinn's two foul shots pulled the Patriots to a 71-68 score with 46 seconds remaining, but the Rams were perfect on 10 free throws from there, including eight by Walker, and made 13-of-14 in the final minute, scoring their final 16 points from the charity stripe.

The Patriots shot 45.8 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from 3-point range, making 4-of-11, and connected on 26-of-37 free throws for 70.3 percent. The Rams made 53.3 percent from the field, 56.3 percent from long range (9-of-16) and 85.7 percent (24-of-28) from the free throw line. VCU out rebounded Mason, 32-24.

Box Score
Va. Commonwealth (5-6, 1-1 CAA)	34-47=81
George Mason (6-5, 1-1 CAA)	28-46=74