Jan. 26, 2010
The George Mason men's basketball team will take on Delaware on Wednesday night looking to remain in first place in the Colonial Athletic Association and keep two winning streaks alive. The Patriots have won their past five games overall and their past 15 home games against CAA opponents. The game, at Patriot Center, begins at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WTNT 570 AM.
Mason (13-7, 8-1) has lost just once this calendar year as the Patriots are 7-1 in January. Since losing at Northeastern on Jan. 7, Mason has beaten UNCW and Georgia State at home and gone on the road to beat James Madison, Hofstra and Towson. It is the 10th win streak of five or more games in Jim Larranaga's 12-plus season as Mason head coach. The Patriots have won six or more on just four occasions over that time span.
Mason has not lost a conference home game since February of 2008. Since then the Patriots have rattled off 15 straight over conference foes. The school record is 17, set from 1999 through 2001.
Delaware is coming off a home win over Georgia State. The Blue Hens are 6-14 on the year and 2-7 in the CAA. Jawan Carter leads Delaware with 17.4 points per game, second-most in the CAA. He is also second in the conference with 4.9 assists per contest. Only one other Blue Hen is averaging double figures, Alphonso Dawson at 12.7 points per game.
The Blue Hens are averaging 64.5 points per game while allowing 73.2 points per game. They are shooting just 40.1 percent from the field on the season and less than 30 percent from 3-point range. They are last in the conference in field-goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
The Patriots have gotten terrific play from Cam Long and Ryan Pearson during the current winning streak. Long was named CAA Player of the Week on Monday and on Tuesday, he was named ECAC Co-Player of the Week. He's averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists during the past five games while shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range. He has scored 20 or more in the past three games and will look to become the first Mason player since George Evans in November of 1998 to do so in four straight games. Ryan Pearson is averaging 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in the past five contests while Andre Cornelius and Mike Morrison are also averaging double figures in those games.
In conference play, Mason has become much more efficient on the offensive end. The Patriots are second in the league in field-goal shooting and 3-point shooting in CAA contests while standing fourth in field-goal percentage defense and fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense. Mason is third in the CAA in scoring and scoring defense in conference games.
