Feb. 8, 2007

Box Score

Richmond, Va. - The George Mason men's basketball dug itself an early hole on Thursday night at Virginia Commonwealth, and despite numerous second-half runs, the Patriots were never able to get ahead of the Colonial Athletic Association's top team as Mason fell to the Rams, 63-49 in front of a sold-out crowd of 7,585, the seventh-largest crowd in the history of the Siegel Center.

Mason got a double-double from Will Thomas who had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Darryl Monroe had 13 points and nine rebounds. Folarin Campbell, Mason's leading scorer at 15.5 points per game entering the contest was held to just two points. The Rams got 17 points from B.A. Walker, 13 points and seven assists from Eric Maynor and 10 points and 11 rebounds from Wil Fameni.

It was a poor first half for Mason (13-11, 7-7) as they tied a season-low for points in a half with just 19 in the opening period. The Rams (21-4, 13-1) opened with a 13-2 run over the first two and a half minutes, connecting on their first six shots. They cooled off after that, making just 5 of 24 over the rest of the period. The Patriots never found an offensive rhythm, though, making just 8 of 29. Six offensive rebounds kept Mason in the game and the Patriots relied heavily on their frontcourt. More than 14 minutes into the game, all of Mason's 11 points came from either Thomas or Monroe. The Patriots were lucky to be down by eight at the half, 27-19, after trailing by as many as 13.

Mason's had an excellent chance to get back into the game on the first possession of the second half. Dre Smith missed a 3-pointer and Monroe missed a turnaround jumper off the offensive rebound. The Rams countered with an 18-footer and a backdoor layup to make it 31-19.

That might have been the end of the night for Mason, but Smith wasn't about to let Mason fade just yet. After Monroe made 1 of 4 free throws, Smith hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, making it a 33-26 game. After Thomas drew a charge, Monroe tipped in a John Vaughan miss in transition to make it 33-28.

Mason nearly drew a shot-clock violation on the next possession but an offensive rebound allowed Walker to score. Mason went back inside on its next possession, as Thomas scored on a dunk and made a free throw for a 35-31 game. The Rams got a similar play the next time down from Calvin Roland to make it 38-31 and Walker scored on a fastbreak layup to give VCU a nine-point cushion.

Campbell's only points of the game cut into the lead but Maynor got a transition layup and Jesse Pellot-Rosa made a pair of free throws and the Rams once again had a double-digit lead, 44-33. Pellot-Rosa made another free throw to complete the 10-2 run. The Patriots got a 6-0 run in response as Thomas made a basket inside, converted a pair of free throws and Jordan Carter scored on a fastbreak for a 45-39 deficit. After Maynor scored for the Rams, Smith and Thomas added baskets for Mason, and it was once again a four-point game, 47-43.

That's when Mason's comeback chances dimmed. Maynor made a pair of free throws and after the Patriots were whistled for a shot-clock violation, Walker drained a 3-pointer putting the Rams ahead 52-43. Mason was never again close as VCU closed the game with a 16-6 run.

The Patriots won't have long to rest as Hofstra, the second-place team in the CAA standings, visits the Patriot Center for game on Saturday. That 4 p.m. clash will be televised on ESPN.