Feb. 11, 2006
Box Score
The George Mason men's basketball team opened the second half with an 11-2 run and despite shooting poorly throughout the game, the Patriots were able to do more than enough to hold off a Towson team playing without its greatest offensive threat, as Mason beat the Tigers 65-53 in front of 6,443 fans at the Patriot Center as part of Homecoming Weekend. Mason remained in first place in the CAA and clinched a first-round bye in the CAA tournament in front of the largest student crowd in school history, as more than 1,700 students were in attendance.
Mason's Will Thomas had his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jai Lewis had 14 points and Folarin Campbell scored 14 as the Patriots won for the 12th time in the past 13 games, including six straight. The Patriots have not lost at home to Towson since Dec. 13, 1977. The win made Lamar Butler the winningest Patriot in school history. This was the 77th win of his George Mason career.
Towson's Lawrence Hamm entered the game leading the CAA in field-goal percentage, shooting at a .597 clip. He was held to 1 of 7 shooting in the game. Dennard Abraham led Towson with a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Tim Crossin had 18 points.
Mason's started the second half with a Campbell layup and free throw. Lewis made a pair of free throws and Campbell and Thomas each added a basket to make it 39-28. That lead proved critical as Towson never went away, trimming a 13-point lead to four with 8:05 to play. Mason responded with a 9-2 run, though, and that put the game out of reach.
The Green Team made it second appearance of the season, entering the game with the score tied at 5-5. The group of Sammy Hernandez, Chris Fleming, Gabe Norwood, Jordan Carter and Tim Burns quickly went on a 7-0 run. Towson was able to rally, though, and closed to 12-11 before the Mason starters returned to the lineup.
With the starters back in Mason continuously pushed the lead close to double figures only to have Towson score a few baskets and stop the run. Mason went up seven only to see the Tigers cut it to two. Mason then went up nine only to see Towson pull to within four at the half.
At the break, Towson held a 22-14 edge in rebounding and they sank eight free throws to Mason's two. But the Patriots were 6 of 12 from 3-point range in the opening stanza and they had harassed Towson into committing 12 turnovers. Only Towson's work on the offensive boards kept the game close.
Towson played the game without Gary Neal, who is averaging 27.1 points per game. That would be tops in the conference if he had played enough games to qualify, but the junior transfer did not become eligible until late December after transferring from La Salle and he has played just 16 games this season.
Mason assured itself of finishing with no more than five CAA losses. At worst, that would tie Mason for fourth with VCU, and Mason holds the tiebreaker the Rams by virtue of a season sweep.
The Patriots return to action on Wednesday when they host Drexel at 7 p.m. Towson will also be in action on Wednesday, hosting Virginia Commonwealth at 7:30 p.m.
