The George Mason men's basketball team raised its record to 3-1 with a pair of wins last week. On Tues., Dec. 3, the Patriots scored a season high point total in a 107-98 win over Morehead State and followed that with an 85-81 upset over Big 12 foe Colorado.

Senior guard Nate Langley enjoyed a solid week, averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the victories. He scored 25 points and grabbed a career best nine rebounds in the win over Morehead State and scored a season high 28 points, passed for seven assists and recorded five steals in the victory over Colorado.

The Patriots had five players in double digits against Morehead State. Backing Langley's effort were junior guard Demetrius Somerville (career high 20 points), senior guard Contrell Scott (career high 17 points), senior forward George Redd (16) and senior forward Kevin Ward (10).

It was the 12th time the Patriots won when scoring 100 or more points in the Paul Westhead era.

Helping Langley against Colorado were Somerville (16 points, four 3-pointers), sophomore center Nik Mirich (10 points, career high 11 rebounds) and Scott (10 points, four free throws in last 3:09).

In Colorado, George Mason was facing a 4-1 team with victories over Auburn and Virginia Tech and a second place finish in the Big Island Tournament in Hawaii. The talented Buffaloes led, 42-35, at halftime and opened a 53-42 edge six minutes into the second half. But the Patriots rallied behind Langley, Ward, Redd and Scott, who combined for 40 of Mason's 56 second half poimts.

George Mason took its first lead at 68-67 on a three-point play by senior forward Bernard Wanjara with 5:45 to play. The Patriots extended the lead to 79-72 on a pair of Langley free throws with 2:12 to go but Colorado pulled to within 80-79 on a Ronnie DeGray basket with 1:24 left. But a Langley basket on a goaltending call and two Scott free throws with 33.9 seconds to play gave George Mason an 84-79 lead.

"That is a very happy group of guys in that locker room," George Mason head coach Paul Westhead said after the Colorado win. "We counted on our zone defense being ready for this game. We got good defense and had our fast break offense going and made some big plays at the end.

"This is the caliber of team we need to beat," he added. "This was the kind of game that would slip by us the last couple of years."

George Mason will host Long Beach State on Tuesday before travelling to Ohio State on Saturday.

Men's Basketball Contact: Jim Engelhardt (993-3269)