Ryan Pearson has career night as Patriots play their most impressive game of the season

Photo by John Powell

Wow, where has this team been? Andre Cornelius has been back for three games but certainly his presence alone could not have sparked what we witnessed last night against Charleston. The Patriots look motivated, on both ends of the court and sported a balance attack on offense. They ended Charleston's 15-game home court winning streak just as there own 18-game one was ended by Duquesne last Wednesday. Ah the circle of college basketball life.  Mason was red hot from the field to open the game (54% in the 1st half) and held Charleston's long range attack in check. It was easily the Patriots best perimeter defense we have seen all year, largely due to Andre Cornelius being in the teeth of the Cougars back court all night long.  The Patriots offense was explosive but they also won the turnover battle (only 9 TOs!) and fought off the Cougars balanced attacked of five players finishing in double figures.  

Ryan Pearson is keeping his #FeartheBeard campaign going strong after his 35 point, 14 rebound performance. He had four "and 1" calls and connected on all of them at the free-throw line.  The Cougars didn't have an answer for him in the front court. His teammates hitting three-pointers definitely helped open things up and gave the Patriots balance that they have been missing.  Pearson ended up taking 25 shots and ended up making 15 of them. This was that Wow performance of the season we had been looking for and we knew he was capable of doing.  

Hopefully the Patriots can build on this as they are about to head into a tough early stretch of CAA games.  You would not have thought by watching last night that the team had any chemistry issues as they ran things pretty fluidly.  They will need to continue that defensive efforts against teams like VCU, ODU, and Drexel to be atop the CAA standings.  An improving defense coupled with their offensive firepower makes them one of the most balanced CAA teams.  

Perhaps that home loss to a lesser opponent like Duquesne was what this team needed to get motivated. Remember in 2005-06 when Mason got drubbed by Creighton at home before CAA play?

NCAA Basketball

NCAA Basketball