Dec. 26, 2006

George Mason freshman Louis Birdsong earned his first career start last Thursday and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds while scoring eight points. On Tuesday, he was honored for that effort by earning the CAA Rookie of the Week Award. Birdsong becomes the first Mason player to earn that honor since February of 2005.

Birdsong scored eight points against Holy Cross to go with those 11 rebounds. He was 3 of 4 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. He had one assist, one steal and two blocks as Mason took a 58-46 road win over the Crusaders.

Birdsong is 7 of 9 from the field over the past two games and he is shooting 50 percent from the field on the season. He is averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds on the year, but in games in which he has played more than 10 minutes, he is averaging 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 78 percent from the field and a perfect 3 of 3 from the free throw line.

The last Mason player to be named Rookie of the Week was John Vaughan, who earned the honor on Feb. 14, 2005. Folarin Campbell earned the honor twice that year as well, while Will Thomas was named Rookie of the Week once that season.

The Patriots will return to action on Thursday when they open the Colonial Athletic Association season on the road at Drexel. That game, which tips at 7 p.m., will be broadcast on CN8, Cox Cable Channel 36, and NY SportsNet.