GMU Guarantees Winning Season With Win Over Hofstra
FAIRFAX, VA – FEBRUARY 3: In his second game back after missing time for a concussion, John Vaughan scored 16 points, leading the Patriots to a 78-54 win over the Hofstra Pride. (Photo by Kate McGovern/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
GMU Patriots Get The Win, Tulane Gets A Lump Of Coal
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 22: Andre Cornelius #2 of the George Mason Patriots drives to the basket against the Tulane Green Wave during a non-conference basketball game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 22, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
Tonight’s game was the first ever match-up between Tulane and Mason. Tulane came into the game just over .500 with a 5-4 record while Mason continues to roll with a 7-2 record. The Patriot victory brings the program’s all time wins up to an impressive 600. Last Friday against Radford Sophomore Cam Long was the star of the show with a career high 21 points. Long was the latest Patriot player to lead the team in scoring, Mason has had six different players who have lead the team in scoring this season.
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Pearson #24 of the George Mason Patriots drives on Daniel Plunkett #44 and Assim McQueen #4 of the Tulane Green Wave during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 22, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
At the end of the first half a pessimist would view the game as poor offence and week shooting percentage from both teams. Mason shot 38% and Tulane shot a dismal 29% from the field. But an optimist would say the defense was excellent and the hustling and rebounding were superb, 22 rebounds logged in for Tulane and 21 for Mason. And finally a realist would say the game went back and forth with 7 ties and 7 lead changes which ended the half in a 29-21 Mason lead.
Mason controlled the lead and the game the entire 2nd half and ended up winning 60-52. Vaughan lead the team in scoring with 16 points, Pearson and Monroe also had double digits. Mason’s next game is on the road against Dayton and then they return home on January 3rd to play a struggling (3-8) UNC Wilmington who is in their conference.
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 22: John Vaughan #23 of the George Mason Patriots shoots a basket from the perimeter against the Tulane Green Wave during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 22, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
For more photographs from the game visit our OffWing Photo gallery on flickr.
Story by Brian Collins
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Radford came, Radford saw, but Radford didn’t Concur
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 19: Daryl Monroe #32 of the George Mason Patriots drives to the basket against members of the Radford Highlanders during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 19, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
The Patriots were off last week for exams and returned to take on the Highlanders from Radford who have started off with a less then stellar performance at 3-6. The Patriots are 3-0 at home this season and have won 17 of their last 18 home games. Mason’s defense continues to be strong keeping four opponents at 60 points or less. They have also held three of their opponents to under 39% shooting from the floor. On offense they have spread the wealth with nine players scoring double digits in at least one contest. The Patriots have had great success against Radford with an 11-3 all-time record.
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 19: John Vaughan #23 of the George Mason Patriots puts up a shot against the Radford Highlanders during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 19, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
At the end of the first half Mason lead 28-25 and was having a difficult time shooting from the field only making 37%. Both teams must have been cramming for their finals because the playing was fairly sloppy, the shot percentage was low, and the turnovers were high. On a positive note, Senior guard John Vaughan who leads the Patriots in scoring with 11.5 ppg broke the 1000 point mark for his career.
To start the second half the Patriots came out swinging and scored 14 points in the first 5 minutes. Radford had small flashes of excitement and a few brief rallies but the Patriots pulled away and didn’t look back. The Patriots won 67-55 and will take on Tulane, a non conference home game, Monday the 22. Over the past 11 years in Larranaga’s great tenure he has accomplished a great deal, he has more wins then any other CAA team with 214 and the highest win percentage with .654.
FAIRFAX, VA – DECEMBER 19: Dre Smith #1 of the George Mason Patriots drives on Joey Lynch-Flohr #40 of the Radford Highlanders during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on December 19, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
For more photographs from the game visit our OffWing Photo gallery on flickr.
Story by Brian Collins
www.flickr.com
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Patriots Topple Mountaineers
FAIRFAX, VA – NOVEMBER 25: John Vaughn #23 of the George Mason Patriots scores during a non-conference game with Mount Saint Mary Mountaineers at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on November 25, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
Coming into tonight’s game the George Mason University Patriots had won their first game, then earned a dominate win over Brown in their home opener (89-52) which was the team’s second largest margin of victory ever in a home opener. They then split on the road with a loss to Hampton and a win over ECU which puts the Patriots going into the game at 3-1. Mount St. Mary’s came into the game at 1-1 with a win over Loyola and a tuff loss on the road against Virginia Tech 57-62.
While Mason started off with some good looks at the basket while the crowed cheered on but could not get anything to sink. Coach Larranaga subbed in some freshman youth from the bench, Andre Cornelius and Ryan Pearson, and the Patriots rallied from an eight point deficit. They could not hold the lead and went into half down two 27-29. The Patriots struggled from the three and only sank 1 of 8 compared to Mountaineers who made 3 of 5.
FAIRFAX, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Ryan Pearson #24 of the George Mason Patriots goes up against Mount Saint Mary Mountaineers defenders during a non-conference game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on November 25, 2008. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
Hustle must have been the halftime talk, at the start of the second half the Patriots came out fired up and seemed unstoppable scoring 15 in the first 5 minutes. They had several steals and seemed to rebound the ball off the boards as if they where playing a JV squad. This added fuel to the already fired up fans. The Patriots pulled ahead to keep the lead with a 72-60 Victory over Mt. St. Mary’s. The Patriots will take on Ohio this Saturday at home.
Story by Brian Collins
www.flickr.com
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