Pearson Leads Four Patriots in Double Figures as George Mason Defeats Delaware, 75-66
January 3, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
FAIRFAX, Va. -- Ryan Pearson led four George Mason scorers in double figures by scoring 19 points as the Patriots used a balanced attack to defeat the University of Delaware, 75-66, in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action Monday night at the Patriot Center.
Mason, which improved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, moved to 7-0 at home this season and defeated Delaware for the ninth straight season in Fairfax. Luck Hancock added 17 points and a team-leading seven rebounds for the Patriots, while Isaiah Tate contributed 12 points and Cam Long poured in 11.
The Blue Hens, who fell to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in the league while dropping their 21st consecutive CAA road game, got 20 points apiece from senior guards Alphonso Dawson (at right) and Jawan Carter. Dawson hit four three-pointers for the second consecutive game en route to posting his season-high for points, while Carter reached the 20-point mark for the sixth time on the year.
Jamelle Hagins recorded his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Devon Saddler handed out a career-high 10 assists on the night.
The Blue Hens received a scare with 3:16 left in the first half when sophomore Malcolm Hawkins went down awkwardly after battling for a rebound, and he was taken off the floor on a backboard. However Hawkins had full use of his extremities in the Patriot Center locker room, and was taken to a local hospital for precautionary x-rays.
Mason shot 56.5 percent from the field, the second straight Blue Hen opponent to shot over 50 percent field the floor, and connected on 13 of 19 field goal attempts in the second half.
The Patriots led 33-28 at the break and increased the margin to seven early in the second half, but Carter and Saddler each found Hagins for emphatic dunks as Delaware closed to within 44-41 at the 12:21 mark.
A Hagins jumphook in the paint made it a 47-45 game two minutes later, but Mason countered with a 10-0 run, culminated by a Hancock three-pointer, to take its largest margin of the night at 57-45 with 7:31 to play.
Delaware would answer, as Dawson drilled a triple from the top of the key and, after getting fouled on a three-point attempt, Carter drained all three foul shots to make it a 57-51 game at the 5:36 mark.
However Hancock responded with a jumper, Mike Morrison recorded a dunk, and Long hit a free throw to increase the Mason advantage back to 11 with 3:26 remaining.
Delaware twice pulled within seven twice late, the second time on a Carter three-pointer with 1:12 left, but the Blue Hens would not get closer.
"George Mason is very good at home, and you have to give them credit," said Delaware head coach Monté Ross. "We were able to respond to each of their runs in the first half, but we couldn't overcome their spurt in the second. We played disciplined basketball for most of the night, but there were a few times when we got careless with the ball and you can't do that on the road."
Mason took an early 8-2 lead in the contest but Delaware answered with a 9-0 spurt, capped with a three-point play by Brian Johnson, to go up 11-8 at the 11:53 mark.
The Blue Hens were still up a point following a three-pointer by Dawson, but Long and Tate each answered from behind the arc to put the Patriots back in front 26-21 with 4:28 left in the half.
Mason took its largest advantage of the period when Long connected from long range, before Dawson drained a shot from just inside the arc to make it a 33-28 game at the break.
Delaware returns home Wednesday to host William & Mary at 7 p.m. the Bob Carpenter Center.
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