The George Mason University men's basketball team continued to struggle in Colonial Athletic Association play, dropping a pair of games to league rivals Old Dominion and James Madison. The Patriots are now 7-7 overall and 1-4 in the CAA.
ODU captured a 94-85 win on Jan. 8 in the Patriot Center while James Madison squeezed out an 85-80 victory Monday night in Harrisonburg.
Senior forward George Redd scored a career high 29 points to pace the Patriots but it was not enough to offset the balanced scoring of Old Dominion, who received a career best 32 points from forward Mark Poag as well as double figures from four other players.
George Mason senior guard Nate Langley hit seven of 10 field goals en route to scoring 19 points against the Monarchs, junior forward Avery Carey added 13 points and a team high six rebounds and Contrell Scott added 11 points off the bench.
Other than Langley and Redd (eight of 17 field goals), the Patriots had trouble finding the range, connecting on only 25 of 67 field goals for 37.3 percent. George Mason made only three of 20 3-pointers.
Against James Madison, George Mason cut a 17-point second half deficit (59-42) to just two (79-77) with 1:17 to play on an Ahmad Dorsett steal and score. But Langley was whistled for his fifth foul with 1:01 to go and the Dukes scored six straight points in his absence to seal the win.
Langley led four players in double figures with 22 points while Carey added 18, Redd 13 (and a team high nine rebounds) and Scott 12.
"At the start of the second half we missed a handful of very makeable shots," head coach Paul Westhead said, "and they went on an 11-3 run. We seem to smack ourselves around a little bit before we make our comebacks."
Even with the missed baskets, the Patriots managed to enjoy their best shooting night in five games. George Mason was 32 of 68 from the floor for 47.1 percent, including 16 of 29 (55.2 percent) in the second half. Old Dominion owned a 43-33 rebounding edge, with 14 of the boards coming on the offensive end.
George Mason hosts Richmond on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. before playing at American on Saturday at 2 p.m.
For tickets call (703) 993-3270.
Men's Basketball Contact: Jim Engelhardt (993-3269)