Nov. 20, 2006

Hampton, Va. - The George Mason men's basketball team will take on Hampton University on Tuesday night as both teams try to rebound from a loss. The Patriots will take the court at Hampton at 7 p.m. after dropping their home opener on Saturday to Wichita State. The Pirates are trying to bounce back after losses to Holy Cross and UMBC.

Mason is 1-1 on the season despite shooting 54 percent or better in both of their games. The Patriots gave up 12 offensive rebounds to Wichita State and 10 3-pointers as the Shockers spoiled Mason's Final Four banner-raising ceremony. The Pirates are 1-3 after losing at Holy Cross by 15 and at home to Maryland-Baltimore County by seven. Hampton also lost at Maryland this season by 27. The Pirates' lone win was a 74-73 victory over New Orleans on neutral ground.

Both Mason and Hampton are getting double-figure point production from a trio of players. Mason's Will Thomas, John Vaughan and Folarin Campbell are all scoring 15.0 points per game or better. Thomas is tied for the CAA lead in rebounding (10.0), is second in field-goal percentage (.762), fifth in assists (4.5) and tied for sixth in scoring (19.5). Vaughan is sixth in scoring (19.5) and fifth in field-goal percentage (.652). He is shooting .462 from 3-point range. Campbell is averaging 15.0 points with 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting better than 52 percent from the field.

Hampton's Michael Freeman leads the Pirates with 13.7 points per game while Rashad West is putting in 10.5 points and Demario Mattox is adding 10.3 points per game. Other than Freeman, who is shooting 67 percent from the field, no Pirate has been knocking down so much as half his shots (minimum 10 attempts). The Pirates are shooting less than 33 percent from the field while allowing the opposition to shot 46.6 percent. The Patriots, meanwhile, have had no problems putting the ball in the basket, shooting .574 from the field despite making just 11 of 34 3-pointers.

The Patriots are undefeated against the MEAC under head coach Jim Larranaga and 2-0 all-time against Hampton. The teams met last December with Mason taking a 79-66 win.

Mason will feature a new look in the starting lineup on Tuesday night as Darryl Monroe and Gabe Norwood, starters in both of Mason's games this year, move to the bench. Replacing them in the starting lineup will be Jordan Carter and Jesus Urbina.