Nov. 27, 2006
The George Mason men's basketball team returns home on Monday to take on Florida International at 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center as both teams will look to improve on a .500 record. The Patriots are 2-2 after Saturday's two-point loss at Creighton. Florida International is 3-3 after a two-point win at Kennesaw State on Saturday.
The Patriots have three players averaging more than 15.0 points per game led by John Vaughan (17.8 ppg) and Folarin Campbell (17.3 ppg). Both have scored in double figures in every game this season and Campbell has scored 10 or more in each of the past nine games stretching back to last year. Will Thomas is averaging 15.3 ppg and 7.3 rebounds per contest. Campbell is averaging 3.25 assists per game while Thomas is averaging 3.0 apg.
Florida International is 1-3 away from home having lost at Miami and Robert Morris as well as South Florida. The Golden Panthers have three players scoring in double figures and five averaging 8.8 points or better. Johwen Villegas leads the pack with 14.7 points per game while Dejon Prejean and Alex Galindo are averaging 11.2 and 10.8, respectively. Facundo Giorgi is grabbing 5.7 rebounds per contest while Villegas is brining down 5.3 rpg. Lora Elvis is dishing out 3.3 assists per game.
One key on Monday night will be shooting percentages. Mason is shooting .495 from the field while holding teams to 45 percent shooting. Florida International is shooting .425 from the field while allowing the opposition to shoot better than 47 percent.
The big reasons for Mason's great shooting percentage are Thomas and Vaughan. Thomas is making better than 68 percent of its shots while Vaughan is shooting close to 60 percent. The pair are second and third on the team in shot attempts.
Thomas needs six more rebounds to tie Dave Skaff for 18th on the all-time list. He is also second all-time at Mason in shooting percentage making 59.6 percent of his shots on his career. Thomas needs 11 points to reach 650 for his career while Campbell needs 12 points. Vaughan needs 12 points to get to 300 for his career.
