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| [ PHOTO: GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ] |
Peter Solari, Editor in Chief Follow @4PeteSakeNY
Was the Emerald Coast Classic just what this team needed? Mason Nation sure hopes so.
The George Mason men's basketball team used a 35-8 second half run to turn a 3-point halftime deficit into an easy 78-63 win over North Carolina Central, in their second campus game of the Emerald Coast Classic at EagleBank Arena Tuesday night. The Patriots will now head to Niceville, FL, where they'll play Cincinnati in the third round Friday, on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.
Mason started the game slow, falling down by double digits early, and the Eagles closed the half on a 7-0 to take the lead at the break, but the second half run, which spanned 12 minutes, was just too much for NC Central to overcome, as they went quietly into the Fairfax night.
Redshirt junior Jarrod Reuter, a transfer from UVA, poured in a career-high 24 points for the Patriots, who shot 51% for the game, and Justin Kier added 12 points of his own. Ian Boyd and Jaire Grayer chipped in 11 and 9 points, respectively.
Senior Otis Livingston II had a team-high 7 assists for George Mason, and more impressively, didn't commit a single turnover. As a team, the Patriots only turned the ball over a season-low 9 times, and just once in the second frame.
The Eagles were led by Randy Miller Jr.'s 19 points. Rashann London added 12.
Granted, for Mason, this win comes at the expense of a 1-4 team that hasn't beaten an NCAA program yet this season, and is losing games by an average of 18 points. Furthermore, the Patriots left something to be desired on the defensive end, as NC Central shot 51% from the field themselves. But after their disastrous 0-3 start, this is just what the doctor ordered for Dave Paulsen's team, and with a tough test in Cincy looming, they could certainly use the momentum.
Cincinnati is currently 3-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of #23 Ohio State. The Bearcats were projected to finish at, or near, the top of the American Athletic Conference this season.
For Mason, the contest against Cincinnati could be a season-defining one. After a tumultuous start that has left many wondering just how good, or bad, this team really is, the matchup with the Bearcats should provide the opportunity to get some answers.
For now, Mason Nation, just enjoy the win and try to remember that things could always be worse.
We may be 2-3 but at least we’re not these guys pic.twitter.com/3IWNOyN7FR— Barstool George Mason (@BarstoolGMason) November 21, 2018
BONUS:
Game highlights from WDVM Sports:
