Nov. 20, 2008

Box Score

Hampton, Va. - The George Mason men's basketball team was unable to develop any offensive rhythm on Thursday night at Hampton University Convocation Center as the Patriots went long stretches without a point and finished the contest shooting just 33.3 percent from the field. The poor performance on the offensive end spoiled a terrific performance on the defensive end as the Patriots suffered their first defeat of the season, falling at Hampton, 50-44.

Louis Birdsong scored a game-high 15 points with eight rebounds and Darryl Monroe had 11 points and 11 rebounds but the Patriots were 2 of 17 from 3-point range and turned the ball over 23 times. The Pirates didn't shoot much better, going 3 of 14 from 3-point range and making just 37.5 percent of their shots but they went to the free throw line 22 times while Mason went just seven. The plus-seven margin in free throws made proved to be the difference in the six-point game.

After trailing for the entire contest, the Patriots managed to finally tie the score at 33-33 with 9:17 to play in the game. But the offense, which came alive so suddenly in scoring five points in 30 seconds, went into hibernation again. Hampton was able to outscore Mason 17-11 the rest of the way to win their home opener. Mason is now 2-1 on the year while Hampton is 1-1.

To say that Mason's offense started off slowly would be like saying clowns wear a little makeup. Mason was held without a field goal for nearly the first 11 minutes. The Patriots got a pair of Monroe free throws with 17:10 to go in the first half and didn't score again until 9:08 was on the clock. Hampton wasn't able to exploit the dry spell, though, as the Pirates led 11-2 when Monroe scored off an offensive rebound to make it 11-4. Cam Long and Louis Birdsong added baskets and Monroe scored again to make it an 11-10 game.

After Hampton got a 3-pointer from Kwame Morlan, Monroe scored again to make it 14-12. But a second foul sent Monroe to the bench along with two-thirds of the Patriots' point production to that point. With the Patriots looking for scoring, Birdsong stepped into the breach and responded with Mason's next six points. His 17-foot jumper with 31 seconds to go in the half pulled Mason to within three at the break, 21-18. Mason was 0 for 10 from 3-point range in the half but 25 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end, kept the Patriots in the game.

The Patriots return to the court on Saturday as the Patriots conclude their road trip with a 4:30 p.m. contest at East Carolina.