Hot-starting VCU holds off late Mason rally in CAA semis
Second-seeded VCU started fast and held on late to earn its seventh trip in the last 11 years to the title game of Virginia 529 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship with a 74-64 win over No. 3 seed George Mason on Sunday afternoon at the Richmond Coliseum.
The Rams scored the first 22 points of the game in route to a first-half lead as large as 28 points, but George Mason closed to within six points late in the second half before VCU held on to advance to Monday night’s championship game against top-seeded Drexel. Read more
VCU tops Mason, 89-77
The George Mason men’s basketball team closed out the 2011-12 regular season on Saturday night, falling 89-77 to Colonial Athletic Association rival VCU at the Siegel Center. Mason (23-8, 14-4) suffered its first double-digit loss in conference this season, earning the third seed in next week’s conference tournament. The Rams (25-6, 15-3) avenged a one-point loss to Mason in Fairfax 11 days ago, and will be the number two seed.
Senior CAA Player of the Year candidate Ryan Pearson led the Patriots with 24 points along with nine rebounds. Classmate Mike Morrison matched Pearson’s total off the glass, leading a 36-27 Patriots advantage in rebounding, and added 10 points. Sophomore Sherrod Wright rounded out the double-digit scorers for Mason with 11 points, while Bradford Burgess led all scorers with 31 points, one of three Rams in double figures. Read more
Mason gets BracketBusters win over Lamar
Senior CAA Player of the Year candidate Ryan Pearson posted his 12th double-double of the season and the George Mason men’s basketball team staved off a late Lamar rally, downing the Cardinals 75-71 on Saturday afternoon. The win, part of the Sears BracketBusters series, was the fifth-straight for Mason (23-6), while the Cardinals dropped to 17-10.
Pearson had game-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds, and was joined in double figures by sophomore Sherrod Wright who chipped in 13 points. Three Cardinals reached double-digit scoring, led by 13 points from Brandon Davis. Read more
Buzzer-beater lifts Mason over VCU, 62-61
Redshirt sophomore Sherrod Wright sank a three-pointer as the final horn sounded on Wednesday evening at the Patriot Center, sending the George Mason men’s basketball team past visiting VCU, 62-61, in a battle to stay atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings.
The Patriots rallied from a five-point deficit inside of 30 seconds to pick up the win, improving to 22-6 and 14-2 in CAA play. VCU (22-6, 13-3), meanwhile, saw the nation’s seventh-longest active win streak come to an end at 11 games. Read more
Mason notches 20th, knocks off Hofstra, 72-62
Overcoming a one-point halftime deficit, the George Mason men’s basketball team shot better than 50 percent from the field and pulled away late from Hofstra, securing a 72-62 Colonial Athletic Association victory on Wednesday evening at the Patriot Center.
Mason (20-6) notched its 20th win of the year, marking its 11th 20-win season in program history, staying atop the conference standings at 12-2. Hofstra dropped to 2-12 in conference and 8-18 overall in the loss.
Senior Ryan Pearson led a trio of double-digit scorers with 16 points, while sophomore Sherrod Wright added 12 points along with a career-high tying seven rebounds. Senior Mike Morrison chipped in 10 points, while Mike Moore led the Pride with a game-high 18 points. Read more
Mason grinds out 54-50 win over ODU
In front of a capacity Homecoming crowd of 9,840, senior Ryan Pearson posted his 10th double-double of the year and the George Mason men’s basketball team grinded out a 54-50 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Old Dominion.
The win, Mason’s 16th straight at home in conference play, kept the Patriots in first place in the CAA standings at 11-2 (19-6 overall) while the Monarchs dropped out of the top spot, falling to 10-3 in conference and 15-10 overall.
Pearson had game highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds, the latter leading a Patriot effort that held a 43-39 advantage off the glass over ODU. Three Monarchs scored in double figures, led by 13 points from Trian Iliadis. Chris Cooper posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Read more
Mason rally falls short at Delaware
The George Mason men’s basketball team could not overcome a double-digit first half deficit, as the Patriots dropped a 65-60 decision on Wednesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center. Mason (18-6, 10-2 CAA) saw its six-game win streak come to an end, as the Blue Hens (11-12, 6-6) earned a season split in the series.
Senior Ryan Pearson led the Mason offense with a game-high 25 points and had a team-best eight rebounds. Joining him with double-digit scoring was sophomore Sherrod Wright and senior Mike Morrison, who chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Kyle Anderson led the Blue Hens with 21 points, and Jamelle Hagins led a 43-33 UD advantage off the glass with nine boards. Read more
