George Mason cut the score to a one-point deficit late in the ballgame, but strong shooting from Northern Iowa sealed a 73-65 win for the visiting Panthers. UNI was 10-for-26 from three-point range, finishing with a 42.1 percent shooting efficiency. Mason shot 38.6 percent from the field and was 5-for-24 from three-point range, but won the rebounding battle 49-32.
GAME NOTES
-Mason won the tip and opened the scoring, but UNI responded with a 10-0 run as Mason committed four consecutive turnovers to take a 10-2 lead with 16:57 to play, forcing the Patriots to call an early timeout.
-Jaire Grayer sliced the deficit to five points hitting a triple out of the timeout, but UNI would eventually grab a double-digit lead six minutes later coming out of the under-12 media timeout.
-The Panthers grabbed their largest lead of the game of 18 points, 27-9, at the 7:21 mark before Mason ignited for a 15-4 run over the next 5:25 minutes of play, bringing the score to 31-26 with 1:06 left in the first half.
-UNI closed the half with a jumper from Paul Jesperson for a 33-26 halftime advantage.
-Coming out of the halftime break, Mason quickly cut the score to a one possession game with buckets from Shevon Thompson and Marquise Moore, setting up a 33-30 ballgame with just over a minute expired into the half.
-UNI would climb back out to a seven-point lead on several occasions and led by six points, 53-47, following a trey from Jesperson at the 5:22 mark before Mason went on a 5-0 run to bring the score to 53-52 with 5:45 to play.
-The Panthers answered with a 10-0 run to grab an 11-point advantage and held Mason’s comeback off, holding a double-digit lead with Mason cutting the score to single digits with just 24 seconds left in the game.
STAT BREAKDOWN
-Mason won the rebounding battle, 49-32, led by 10 rebounds from Shevon Thompson. Three Patriots finished in double-figures with Moore leading the way with 15 points. Otis Livingston II followed with 13 points and Marko Gujanicic added 10 points. For the game, Mason shot 38.6 percent.
-Mason pulled down 23 offensive rebounds, converting the boards into 21 second chance points and finished the game with 36 points in the paint.
-UNI used 12 Mason turnovers to convert into 15 points.
-The Panthers hit 10 three-pointers and finished 15-for-20 from the free throw line. Jesperson picked up a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Wes Washpun also contributed 19 points. Matt Bohannon added 14 points.
NEXT ON THE COURT
-Up next, Mason hits the road to visit long-time rival and former CAA foe James Madison on Saturday. Tip time in the Convocation Center is slated for 4 p.m.
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Chris Graham
