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George Mason holds off Lamar in Bracketbusters game

George Mason Basketball: George Mason holds off Lamar in Bracketbusters game

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

George Mason holds off Lamar in Bracketbusters game

George Mason had another game yesterday where they let a big lead shrink in the second half and somehow found a way to keep things interesting late in the game. Mason was firing on all cylinders as they built up a 17 point lead in a game that started out with hot shooting and no defense on either side.  VCU buzzer-beater hero Sherrod Wright came off the bench and sank a three-pointer on his first attempt, picking up right where he left off.  However the turnovers and poor shot selection towards the end of the game once again nearly doomed the Patriots.  Sure this game didn't have the feel of a VCU or ODU but it would have been nice to see them have a killer instinct and put a team away early.  But the Patriots come away with the win again and are currently on a five game winning streak and staying on a roll at this point in the season is very reassuring.  

Mason shot the ball very well despite surrendering their big lead.  They shot 68% in the first half and 57% overall for the game.  It seems as though the Patriots sometimes just get too comfortable when they jump out to big lead and start to coast.  Maybe they just like to keep things interesting for all us fans.  We did however see a better three-point shooting day from Mason then we are accustomed too. Wright and Cornelius combined for five three-pointers, something I hope we can more of before this season is over.  

The three seniors were honored and each of them had a good game.  Ryan Pearson picked up another double-double and had a great day on the boards, while Mike Morrison get things going early in the paint.  Andre Cornelius had the most impressive game we have seen from him in awhile but only played 14 minutes.  Sherrod Wright has obviously earned the playing time but I still think Cornelius is going to have to be a big factor if this team wants to be playing meaningful basketball after March 5.  

[Photos by John Powell]



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14 Comments:

Anonymous NEEKER90 said...

Typical GMU game flow Saturday....start off slow in the first half fall behind, catch up by half,spurt begining of second half, go into a scoring drought and excute and eek out a win at the end. If wins continue then it works for me!

10:55 AM  
Anonymous Matt said...

Still stresses me we can't shut people out completely but we do finish!  Thanks seniors.  Pretty balanced scoring, long time since we've seen that.  The let down started with the fresh/sophomores but starters were back in when it was at nine so everyone needs to bolster D and be patient on O.

Post game video: Love how Hewitt cut off the reporter asking about the VCU game, emphasized the NE game and the left after his answer!!  Pat Knight also paid Pearson a high compliment of saying his dad would have loved to have had Ryan as a player-no matter if you like Bob Knight or not that is high praise!

Lastly on video is it too much for Mason to run that video into an editing software and cut out the dead time b/t interviews?  Not really a time consuming activity.

6 and 6 in BB play for the CAA, atleast the top six all won.  Drexal looked dominant!  Maybe the only real hope for an at large is if they lose in the finals.

11:26 AM  
Anonymous Good said...

We have a period that there is no starters and seniors on the floor. That is when Lamar starts to clam back. PH may want to use this as a training process for freshman. A blow out win looks good but normally not good for the next game because the players are over-excited and may have hangover. Looking forward a good effort in NE to win the road game !  

11:49 AM  
Anonymous Ddumas4 said...

Actually, 7-5 for CAA with the Hofstra win. This was a good BB year for CAA...I predict two teams will be NCAA tourney this year and hope Mason will be one of them!

1:27 PM  
Anonymous Taylormade703 said...

A month ago all of us were saying if we continued playing sloppy we would be blown out by VCU and ODU.  Worst case scenario we will go 3-1 against them this season.  We keep winning.  Granted, not pretty, but the bottom line is winning.

5:09 PM  
Anonymous Charlie T said...

Short comment here. Beat NE. At this point keep showing film of the Delaware away game and the VCU home game. One of those is an award winning film the other is a lesson.

6:22 PM  
Anonymous Brentrg said...

 Couldn't agree more.  We are who are, and if it's winning i'm on board!  A win ANY WAY we can get it against VCU in RIchmond would be awesome and would actually surprise me a bit.  It we win out and make it far in the CAA tourney, there is definitely a chance we get an at large bid.  Prob around 50/50, but I have no doubt the committe would look at ANY team from the CAA now with 24+ wins and give them a strong look

6:35 PM  
Anonymous StopWearingPurple said...

At this point in the season its just about wins.  Kudos to the fans who continued to cheer and try and rally the team when Lamar was coming back.

12:17 PM  
Anonymous Christopher Hirsch said...

The difference in the game was definitely the white out.

/sincere

12:39 PM  
Anonymous Taylormade703 said...

 I'd like to see a "yellow out" next year, with the yellow jerseys and everything.  I think it'd look incredible.

4:04 PM  
Anonymous gmuhoops said...

Don't they encourage fans to wear gold like every other game?

5:17 PM  
Anonymous Rmjank said...

Man, are we ever becoming cardiac kids.  That's kinda okay and fun when it's of the game against vcu variety, where we scrap all game to stay within striking distance and then strike in the end.  But when it's of that blowing the large lead variety... not so much fun.  But I won't argue with the win.

6:49 PM  
Anonymous TheTruthHurts said...

There will be only 1 team coming out of the CAA into the March-Dance.  The CAA out of conference RPI is weak and most/if not all CAA teams have not won against top tier teams.  Only the conference champs will rep the CAA...Period so stop pipe dreaming about an at-large becasue it's not going to happen.  If GM doesn't beat VCU next week you can pretty much rest assure that GM won't beat VCU in the CAA Tournament Semi-Finals.  This team will not Dance-n-March....VCU and Drexel are better teams. 

12:46 AM  
Anonymous Matt said...

They are more consistent teams and therefore have played better ball but when Mason is playing at it's best I don't think you really can say the other teams are better.  We may not have closed out with big leads but since late Dec whave been winning.  If Copes hadn't gotten hurt in the Drexel game that might have been a different game-9 blocks in the first half and too big for Drex to push around.

Probably right about not getting a second team but if Mason wins it, Drexel or VCU may still have a hope of an at large.  It's the age old question: Do we really want to see the 7 or 8 team from the ACC, SEC, Big East or is their creedence given recent history to having "mid-major" teams get a second invite.  CAA hasn't been great all year but our top four are playing well now.

9:02 AM  

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