George Mason is now awaiting a possible NIT berth, after getting bounced from the A-10 Tournament in a 73-67 second-round loss to St. Bonaventure on Thursday.
Mason (23-9) led by 10 at the break, but gave up 49 points in the second half to the Bonnies (17-16), who the Patriots had swept in the regular season.
“I expected better,” Mason coach Tony Skinn said. “The message to these guys was that it’s very hard to beat a team three times in a season. Defensively in the first half, I thought we were pretty solid. I’m disappointed, frustrated and everything you can think of. The highs and lows of this sport we play – we win at home against one of the better teams in our league and the country, then we come here and lay an egg in the second half. It’s unfortunate.”
Mason had dominated a ranked Saint Louis team in an 86-57 win on Saturday in the teams’ regular-season finale.
Jahari Long led the Patriots with 17 points (4-of-6 3FG) to go with three rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes. Second-team All-A-10 pick Riley Allenspach added his second double-double in three games (12 points, 10 rebounds), while fellow All-A-10 second-teamer Kory Mincy chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.
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Chris Graham
