March 15, 2010
The George Mason men's basketball team will play in the postseason for the third straight season as the Patriots host Fairfield on Tuesday night at Patriot Center in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be viewed and heard online through Fox College Sports.
The Stags (22-10) are playing in the postseason for the first time since 2003, an NIT appearance. Last week, Fairfield nearly earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament before losing in overtime to Siena in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. The Stags were second in the MAAC this season and this is their first 20-win season since 1995-96 and the most victories since a 24-win campaign in 1985-86.
Derek Needham led Fairfield in scoring and assists this season and picked up the MAAC Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 16.3 points and 5.2 assists this year. Anthony Johnson averaged 15.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Stags are 9-8 on the road this year with victories at Manhattan, Rider, Loyola (Md.), Marist, Canisius, St. Peter's, Howard, Central Connecticut State and American. The one mutual opponent this year is Hofstra, which beat Fairfield in Hempstead, 84-80.
The Patriots (17-14) finished the year tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association but Mason is 2-7 in February and March. The Patriots have been led this season by second-team All-CAA performer Cam Long, who leads the team in scoring (12.2), assists (3.1) and steals (1.3). He is the first player in school history to lead Mason in scoring and assists in back-to-back seasons. Ryan Pearson is averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while three other players, Andre Cornelius, Mike Morrison and Luke Hancock, all average 7.7 points per game or better. Hancock, selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team, has the highest freshman scoring average since Lamar Butler averaged 10.2 in 2001-02.
Senior Louis Birdsong will have one more chance to play at Patriot Center. He has won 45 games at home over his career and with a victory on Tuesday, he will tie Jai Lewis for most wins at Patriot Center.
Tickets are available for just $10 and they are available through Ticketmaster or the Patriot Center Box Office. Go to Fox TicketMaster or call TicketMaster at (703) 573-SEAT. Students can obtain one free ticket with a valid Mason student I.D.
