Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - George Mason scored a season-low 52 points and shot 28.8 percent from the floor and 1-for-11 from 3-point range in dropping a 75-52 Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball decision at Hofstra Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale for both teams. The Patriots lose their second straight and fall to 16-12 overall (10-8 CAA), while the Pride wins their sixth in a row and improves to 20-7 on the season (12-6 CAA).

George Mason clinches the No. 6 seed in the CAA Tournament, being held Mar. 4-7 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va. and will face UNC Wilmington at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Hofstra's seed will not be determined until the conclusion of Drexel's game vs. Towson Monday evening.

Hofstra blew the game open with a 15-1 second-half run, turning a 51-40 advantage into a 66-41 lead with 7:06 left in the game. Forward Adrian Uter, who tied his career-high with 14 points and added 11 rebounds off the bench, kick-started the run with a pair of lay ups, and forward Aurimas Kieza ended it with a lay-up off an offensive rebound. George Mason did not score a field goal for almost 10 minutes, spanning from the 14:28 mark of the second half until the 5:09 mark.

The Pride also closed out the first half with a key 10-2 run, turning a narrow 26-25 lead into a 36-27 advantage at the break. Guard Gibran Washington capped off the run with a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.

Mason made only five second half field goals and shot 27.8 percent from the floor in the period. Overall, the Patriots made more free throws (21) than they did field goals (15). Hofstra connected on 48.5 percent of its field goals and was 31.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Junior guard Lamar Butler (Oxon Hill, Md.) led George Mason with 14 points. Sophomore guard Gabe Norwood (State College, Pa.) contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench.

Guard Loren Stokes had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Hofstra. Guard Antoine Agudio was also in double figures with 13 points for the Pride. Hofstra also held a 47-31 edge in the rebounding department, outscoring the Patriots 21-6 on second-chance points.

Box Score
George Mason (16-12, 10-8 CAA)	27-25=52
Hofstra (20-7, 12-6 CAA)	36-39=75