Game Story; George Mason 76, JMU 64

Saturday, February 26

Fairfax, Va.

TBA

James Madison University

George Mason

JAMES MADISON

GEORGE MASON

2/26/2000 2:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. (2/26/2000) – George Evans led five George Mason players in double figures in scoring, and the Patriots clinched the top seed for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament by rallying to win their final regular-season game 76-64.

JMU, which tied George Mason for the regular-season crown with a win over North Carolina Wilmington two days later, never trailed during the first half and led 54-50 on Jabari Outtz's three-pointer with 9:08 left in the game. However, the Dukes got only one more field goal until 1:02 remained in the game. George Mason took control with a 13-3 scoring run to lead 63-57 with 5:34 to play and led 69-59 when JMU's Rob Strickland broke the JMU drought from the field at the 1:02 mark.

Evans, who also had 14 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals, put George Mason in front to stay 57-56 with a field goal with 7:09 left. The Patriots also got 16 points from Ahmad Dorsett, 13 from Tremaine Price, 12 from Keith Holdan and 10 from Tyrone Tiggs.

JMU got 14 points from Outtz and 11 from Mickey Dennis, but the Dukes shot 36.9 percent (24-65) overall and 31.3 percent (10-32) during the second half. They also committed 22 turnovers.

JMU played all but the first three minutes of the final half without senior swingman Jamar Perry, who didn't return after suffering a knee injury.

JMU led 25-15 with 6:11 left during the first half and 35-26 a minute before halftime, but George Mason rallied to within 35-32 by the break.

Although JMU and George Mason split 1999-2000 regular-season meetings, the Patriots received the top seed for the CAA Tournament through the league tie-breaker system (wins over higher-finishing teams in conference play).