Jan. 8, 2005

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Junior guard Tony Skinn (Takoma Park, Md.) scored 15 points and sophomore guard Gabe Norwood (State College, Pa.) added a career-high 14 to lead George Mason to a 74-69 win over UNC Wilmington in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Patriot Center.

The win for the Patriots (7-5, 2-1 CAA) was the 130th at George Mason for coach Jim Larranaga, which moved him into a tie with John Linn for the most in school history.

George Mason led 51-42 with 9:21 to play, after holding the Seahawks (7-5, 2-1 CAA) without a two-point field goal for more than seven minutes. UNCW closed to within five or fewer nine times in the final seven minutes, but couldn't get enough key stops to make up the difference.

Sophomore guard T.J. Carter scored a game-high 16 points, including his third 3-pointer with 1:45 to make the score 68-65. However, an offensive rebound gave Skinn a chance to make two free throws and push the lead to 70-65.

Carter hit another 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left to make it 72-69, but Mason junior guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md.) scored the final two of his 12 points on two free throws with four seconds to play to seal the win.

Senior forward Aaron Coombs scored a career-high 15 for the Seahawks, who didn't make a two-point field goal in the second half until Taylor Lay banked in a jumper with 9:05 remaining.

Junior forward Jai Lewis (Aberdeen, Md.) added 14 points and five rebounds for George Mason, which shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half to build on a 32-30 halftime lead. Junior guard John Goldsberry finished with a game-high seven assists.

George Mason shot 49 percent from the floor compared to 44 percent for UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks connected on 10-of-25 three-pointers for 40 percent, while the Patriots made only 3-of-13 (23 percent). Mason did most of its damage from the free throw line, going 25-for-36 for 69 percent. UNCW posted only 9-of-12 from the charity stripe (75 percent).

George Mason returns to action Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. clash at conference foe Delaware.

Box Score
UNC Wilmington (7-5, 2-1 CAA)	30-39=69
George Mason (7-5, 2-1 CAA)	32-42=74