Feb. 3, 2006

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It was just last Saturday that the Patriots played their biggest game of the year when Mason hosted Old Dominion in a battle of first-place teams. And while Mason was able to take a 19-point victory over the Monarchs, it failed to provide the Patriots with any breathing room. This Saturday's contest takes on the same magnitude as last week's game, with Mason hosting UNC Wilmington in another battle of first-place clubs.

The Patriots and the Seahawks are both 10-2 in conference play and the winner of Saturday's contest will take sole possession of first place. With the Seahawks having won the first meeting between the teams, a 69-63 victory on Jan. 21 at Trask Coliseum, it is critical that the Patriots win on Saturday if they hope to earn the No. 1 seed in next month's CAA Championships.

Mason has won three straight, 9 of 10 and 15 of 18. The Seahawks have won five straight and 8 of 9. Mason is fresh off a win at Delaware on Thursday night while UNC Wilmington downed Drexel at home.

In the first meeting between the schools, senior guards Lamar Butler and Tony Skinn combined for 10 points and four rebounds while shooting 3 of 16 from the field. They did produce 10 assists. Folarin Campbell, Will Thomas and Jai Lewis all had double-figures in scoring and eight or more rebounds. T.J. Carter was the UNC Wilmington player that damaged Mason the most as he scored 28 points on 10 of 17 shooting. As a team, the Seahawks registered a .471 shooting percentage, the second-best mark by any Mason opponent this year.

The Seahawks last swept Mason in the regular season in 2000-01, taking a four-point win at the Patriot Center and an eight-point win at home. Mason got revenge, though, beating UNC Wilmington 35-33 in the CAA Tournament finals to win the conference title.

If the Patriots pull off the victory, it will give Jim Larranaga his 107th CAA win, which would break the record he currently shares with Dick Tarrant of Richmond.